""Eminence #2" | Artist - Martin Osner | Limited Edition (3)" Photograph

I am a painter who creates expressive, layered artworks rooted in the spirit, culture, and textures of Southern Africa. My work is deeply personal—each piece crafted through the emotional language of colour, texture, and material. Although I was drawn to art from an early age, I wasn’t allowed to study it at school. My parents believed that becoming an artist meant a life of struggle and instability. So I found my way, returning to art later in life with a sense of purpose and quiet determination. Over the years, I’ve developed a multidisciplinary practice that moves fluidly between painting, mixed media, and photography—each medium offering a different way to express light, atmosphere, and emotion. While some pieces are purely photographic, many are layered with brushwork, gold leaf, and hand-textured surfaces. My paintings often carry a quiet, abstract energy—built with acrylics, oil paint, encaustic, and other tactile materials. My recent African Queen Collection celebrates feminine strength and African identity through richly painted, soulful portraits. This body of work has garnered strong collector interest due to its honesty, texture, and cultural resonance. Among my accolades, I was named Best Contemporary International Artist at the Florence Biennale in 2009 and have received multiple awards for innovation in the visual arts. My work has featured in exhibitions and publications that explore the evolving space where painting and photographic media intersect. Today, I co-direct the Osner Gallery in Cape Town and run the Art Photography Academy, where I mentor artists in fine art and creative expression. Art, for me, is not a career—it’s a calling. And every canvas is a story waiting to be told.