Drawing inspiration from Claude Monet’s Haystacks, Refraction examines how light—and time—reshape what we see. In Monet’s series it wasn’t just the stacked hay; it was dawn and dusk, shadow and shimmer, decay and renewal. Here, a single oil-portrait becomes our “haystack”—repeated, refracted and re-imagined through shifting hues of vibrant colour.

The exhibition Permanence delves into the exploration and establishment of form, drawing inspiration from painters Lucian Freud and Frank Auerbach. These artists’ techniques of applying thick, textured layers of paint to reveal the passage of time have profoundly influenced Smit’s artistic approach. Their method of revisiting, rethinking, and reimagining form over time resonates deeply within this collection.

Veil showcases Smit's masterful fusion between his use of Classical art techniques and a profound exploration of the hidden aspects of our existence. The collection of oils, painted in a Classical manner, features draped cloth over female sitters. The fabric functions to subtly conceal and obscure elements that lie beneath the surface. The drapery, an integral part of the exhibition's theme, represents the veiled - the unseen world that exists just beyond the grasp of our physical senses.

Comprising painting, sculpture and film, Lionel Smit’s latest body of work explores the theme of exposure. While the term calls to mind forms of revelation and discovery, it also has bearing in the field of photography, where it refers to the amount of light that reaches a light-sensitive surface.

A rare chance to see Lionel Smit at work. A glimpse behind the scenes. Witness his artistic process firsthand.

The permanent installation of Morphous in Kennedy Plaza, downtown Providence, RI is a wonderful celebration of South African artist Lionel Smit ’s monumental bronze sculpture marking the end of 2022.

With Collide, celebrated South African portrait artist, Lionel Smit, exhibits a collection of works in a solo exhibition with Syndey based gallery .M Contemporary.

Uitstalling Art Gallery / KUBE Gallery presents Pendulum: An exploration of duality through portraiture by Lionel Smit by Art Daily

Belgian based art gallery Uitstalling Art Gallery / KUBE Gallery hosts a solo exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Lionel Smit in Genk.

Lionel Smit is the South African creative unifying humans through art - An article by Kulture Hub

Lionel Smit’s Discrepancies – on exhibition at Uitstalling Gallery in Genk, Belgium – is also a body of work that does not shy away from the unsettled distinction between what we see and what we know.