Ruan Jooste
I was born in 1988 in Nigel, Gauteng, South Africa. As a digital painter, I held my first solo exhibition in Cape Town in 2021, which was well-received. My work has been featured on the Sunday Times Lifestyle cover and in Art Times magazine. I have exhibited in Cape Town, Paris AKAA Art Fair, and New York. My art is part of the RMB collection and has appeared in a Strauss & Co. auction. These opportunities have allowed me to connect with a global audience, and I am grateful for the support of art enthusiasts worldwide.
My work blends luxury fashion elements with South African brand iconography, evoking nostalgia and shared memories. I aim to highlight our commonalities as South Africans, envisioning my subjects as part of a united tribe of courage, positivity, and joy. My fictional portraits, influenced by Magic Realism with an urban twist, exude charm, sass, and attitude. They convey pride, freedom, and self-love, crafting a real-world context around imagined characters. Combining classic portraiture with modern 'selfie' culture, my compositions reflect self-assurance and playfulness. I invite you into a world where old meets new, imagination knows no bounds, and the human experience is celebrated.
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