Clint Strydom (b. 1973, Johannesburg) is a South African fine art photographer and visual story teller, known for his innovative, unmistakable, signature style.
Clint's practice is grounded in an intuitive ability to capture the emotional undercurrents of the environments he explores; whether in the pulsing heart of a city or the quiet resilience of rural landscapes, resulting in richly textured imagery that resonates across borders and disciplines.
Raised on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, Clint’s early connection to the ocean, natural landscapes, and slower rhythms of coastal life instilled in him a sensitivity to light, atmosphere, and movement that continues to influence his visual storytelling today. The contrasts between his rural upbringing and later immersion in dynamic urban spaces are central to his work, creating a unique tension between stillness and energy, serenity and complexity.
His distinctive, experimental style is best known for its ability to distill multiple moments into a single frame; layering architecture, human presence, and ambient light to convey not just what is seen, but what is felt. In Big City Life, his Johannesburg-focused series, Clint captures the raw rhythm of the metropolis through immersive compositions that blend street culture, infrastructure, and emotion into images that feel timeless and alive.
His practice often centres on uncovering overlooked narratives and peripheral spaces, offering quiet yet powerful reflections on place, identity, and memory. His acclaimed series Hidden Shadows & Silent Voices, exhibited at Constitution Hill in 2017 and curated by Gaisang Sathekge, offered a poignant meditation on forgotten histories and marginalised communities.
His ability to blend technical precision with poetic stillness has positioned him as a sought-after creative force and earned him global recognition, allowing his work to transcend context while remaining deeply rooted in place.
He has exhibited both locally and internationally, with solo presentations at The Melrose Gallery and projects featured at Expo Chicago, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, and Cape Town International Art Fair. His bold visual language has also led to high-profile collaborations with global brands such as Aston Martin International, FIFA, the Mexican Football Hall of Fame and Constitution Hill.
Career highlights
2025 ‘Tunnel, San Francisco, 2025’ featured in Bleeding Edge, curated editorial selection Artsy
2025 1-54 Contemporary Art Fair, New York
2025 Expo Chicago Art Fair, CONTRAST, curated by Lauren Haynes
2025 Investec Cape Town International Art Fair. Play as Praxis curated by Mpumi Mayisa
2025 The Alchemy of Colour, The Melrose Gallery
2020 Prizm Contemporary African Art Fair
2019 Winter group show, The Melrose gallery
2019 Material Identities, The Melrose Gallery
2018 Collaborated with Mbongeni Ngema on ‘Sarafina’ & ‘Asinamali’
2017 Solo exhibition ‘Hidden Shadows & silent Voices’, Constitution Hill, curated by Gaiseng Sathekge.
2016 Co-founded The Melrose Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2010 Invited to participate FIFA Football World cup Fine Arts Project
2010 Commissioned by Mexican Football Hall of Fame
2009 Commissioned by Aston Martin Global
Collections
Aston Martin (Global)
Black Coffee
Constitution Hill
FIFA
The Mexican International Hall of Fame
The City of Johannesburg
Mercedes
Amdec
Growthpoint
Jamie Oliver’s Italian
Thanda After School
Amy Biehl Foundation
Zimbali resorts
Press
Discoveries Abound at Second Expo Chicago Under Frieze Ownership
https://news.artnet.com/market/expo-chicago-2025-report-2636866
New York Times: In Celebration of Soccer Artistry, a Mix of Styles
Artists From Around the World Add Own Touch to the World Cup - The New York Times
Hidden Shadows and Silent Voices, Constitution Hill
https://www.dirco.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ubuntu_issue13a_compressed.pdf
The Sunday Times
Clint Strydom captures tormented history of prison in new exhibition
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