Dylan Lewis (b. 1964)

Dylan Lewis was born in Johannesburg in 1964 into an artistic family. His late father was the famous sculptor Robin Lewis, his Great Grandfather and Grandmother were accomplished artists and his mother, Valerie, and brother Tim, are practising artists. Growing up in such a flamboyant artistic environment had a positive effect on Dylan and today he is internationally recognised as one of the world's most important contemporary sculptors of animals.

In 1982 Lewis enrolled to study Fine Art at Cape Technikon in Cape Town. Having always had a strong affinity with and interest in with the natural world, he went on to work at Rodevlei Nature reserve nearby for four years (1985-89). During this period, Lewis undertook a number of projects including studying painting and taxidermy at the Ruth Prowse School of Art. The latter skill would prove invaluable in Lewis's future career as a sculptor.

Lewis became interested in sculpture in 1989, towards the end of his time at Ruth Prowse. In 1990 he spent a year painting and sculpting at Timbavati Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga and in July 1991, presented the AGM of the reserve with 2 bronze rhino.

In 1995 Lewis represented South Africa at the 'Artists for Nature Foundation Expedition' to Cordova, Alaska. The following year he began working on his Cat Collection, for which he is best known. Since then he has completed numerous monumental commissions including sculpting a series of leopards - one in each tree - for the golf course at Leopard Creek, in Mpumalanga.

Through a series of exhibitions in North America, London and South Africa, Lewis has become known to an international audience. In 2007, Christies held an exclusive sale of his works entitled 'Predators and Prey, The Animal Bronzes of Dylan Lewis'. It is characteristic of the artist and his profound passion for wildlife that he donated 10 per cent of the proceeds from this sale to the WWF.

The joy of Lewis's sculpture is in his representation of the power and movement of Africa's larger life forms. At the same time, the textures he creates recall the rugged landscapes and ancient rhythms of the African Continent. Lewis works primarily from life, sketching, noting and drawing incessantly in the field. In the quiet of his studio he refers to his drawings to reproduce the animal's physical form, whilst simultaneously exploring the deeper, abstract qualities of his subject.

Since1994 Lewis has lived on a farm in Stellenbosch. Here he has a studio and foundry where he casts his own bronzes. In 2006 Lewis began focusing intensely on mastery of the human form.

Collections

First National Bank, South Africa
Fedlife
Escom
Nissan, South Africa
President Nelson Mandela
Mr A. Oppenheimer
Mr N. Oppenheimer
Mr C. D. Palmer-Tomkinson
Dr J. Rupert
Mr B. Sangster
Sir Richard Storey
H.R.H. The Duke of York
Afrox
Anglovaal
Deutsche Morgan Grenfell
Eskom
First National Bank in South Africa
Havard Capital Management Worldwide
Leopard Creek Country Club, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Source:
Website of Portland Gallery, London, England

Dylan Lewis, between 1993 and 2000, mainly explored the cat form, focusing primarily on the large feline predators of Africa.