BIOGRAPHY

(b. 1985, South Africa)
Neill Wright is a multidisciplinary artist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He explores various mediums, such as sculpture, printmaking and painting as modes of expression, drawing inspiration from a variety of sources within his lived experience. The bold, multi-layered and colourful work speaks to a curiosity about and affection for the natural world while the geographically impossible mashups hint at the chaos of everyday life. Abstract and representational elements co-exist in a seductive yet menacing way suggestive of both the excitement and trepidation present in the unknown and un-explored.
In 2007 Neill graduated with distinction to the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art (Honours), at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town where he was co-awarded the Simon Gerson Prize for an outstanding body of work. In 2009 he graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art, majoring in printmaking. In 2013 Wright was named one of the 10 emerging South African artists to watch by The Times, and he has exhibited in a number of group and solo exhibitions as well as at numerous South African and International Art fairs. His work is housed in both corporate and private collections throughout the world.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025
We Turned Off The Road, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
2024
Stepping in between, District Gallery, Cleveland OH, May 2024
2023
This Quiet Company, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
Where the light gets in, Carousel Fine Art, Miami
2022
A New Solitude, Everard Read, Johannesburg
I Forget Where We Were, District Gallery, Cleveland, USA
2020
The Only Way Out Is Through, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
To Anywhere and Nowhere, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
2018
Blizzard Head, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
2016
Wilderness, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
2015
The Atrophy and the Ecstasy, Sulger-Buel Lovell, Cape Town, South Africa
2013
The Hilarity of Reality, Circa on Jellicoe, Johannesburg, South Africa
2012
Spectacular but Empty, The Lovell Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
2011
Protect Your Roots, Salon 91, Cape Town, South Africa
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
Southern Light, Everard Read, London
INNER SANCTUM, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
Winter Collection, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa
2022
Spring, group show, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa
Things I’d like to remember, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
2021
Spring Show, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
L & G Projects, La Jolla, USA
Spring, Everard Read, Johannesburg
Summer, District Gallery, Cleveland, USA
2020
TINY2020, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
US, Everard Read, online exhibition, UK & South Africa
2019
Summer, Everard Read, London, UK
Cubicle Series, Everard Read, Cape Town
2017
Now, Sulger-Buel Lovell, London
Spectrum, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
Off the wall: A group sculpture exhibition, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
2015
Bronze Steel Stone, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
2014
Liberation un(masked), Sulger-Buel Lovell, London, UK
2013-14
Summer of Sculpture, Mount Nelson Hotel, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
2013
Whack! Gallery In Toto, Johannesburg, South Africa
2011
Summer Salon, Salon 91, Cape Town, South Africa
TLG Competition Winners, Lovell Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Winter Salon, Salon 91, Cape Town, South Africa
2010
Out Of Africa, Salon91, Cape Town, South Africa
SELECTED ART FAIRS
2023
Joburg Art Fair, Everard Read, Johannesburg
Palm Beach Modern & Contemporary, Carousel Fine Art, Palm Beach
Art Palm Beach, Carousel Fine Art, Palm Beach, January
Context Miami, Carousel Fine Art, Miami USA
2022
Joburg Art fair, Everard Read, Johannesburg
2021
Context Miami, Carousel Fine Art, Miami USA
2018
Joburg Art Fair, Everard Read, Johannesburg
2017
Cape Town Art Fair, CTICC, Sulger-Buel Lovell booth, Cape Town
FNB Joburg Art Fair, Everard Read booth, Johannesburg
Turbine Art Fair, Sulger-Buel Lovell, Johannesburg
2016
FNB Art Joburg, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa
2015
Turbine Art Fair, with Sulger-Buel Lovell, Johannesburg, South Africa
2014
FNB Joburg Art Fair, with Lovell Urban, Johannesburg, South Africa
Turbine Art Fair, with Lovell Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa
Cape Town Art Fair, with Salon91 Contemporary, Cape Town, South Africa
2013
Art For Me, with Lovell Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Sydney Contemporary, Australia
FNB Art Joburg, with Lovell Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Turbine, with Lovell Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Standard Bank National Arts Festival, Makhanda, South Africa
2012
FNB Art Joburg, with Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
AWARDS
2007
Co-awarded the Simon Gerson Prize for an outstanding body of work, graduating with distinction at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT
2011
Winner of the Lovell Tranyr Art Trophy
2013
Listed, in The Times, as one of the top 10 emerging South African artists to watch