INFORMATION
Portrait by Matt Slater.
Chris Soal (b. 1994) is an award-winning, emerging South African artist.
Soal’s studio-based practice is sculptural in its output, working with objects and materials in ways which show not only a conceptual engagement with the contexts and histories of the objects, but that also re-enforce the body as a site for knowledge reception and production. Soal’s works seek to make a poetic statement through the simplest of means, engaging the viewer’s spatial awareness and perceptual habits while challenging core societal preconceptions of value and hierarchy.
Through his use of discarded and mundane ephemera, such as toothpicks and bottle caps, along with concrete, rebar, electric fencing cable, sandpaper and other industrial materials, the artist intuitively develops the familiar to the point of the uncanny. Soal’s works can be considered as a social abstraction that is deeply rooted in, and reflective of, having grown up in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Working symbiotically with his materials, Soal utilises the inherent physical characteristics of the objects to transform them through processes of aggregation, combination and erosion to interrogate views of nature and culture as a binary concept – seeking to foreground pressing ecological concerns by repositioning the viewer as an active agent within the contemporary environment. Despite the artificiality of his materials, Soal’s process allows the materials to take on biomorphic qualities or evoke natural phenomena, expressing his interest in the phenomenological quality of the materials.
NEWS
APRIL ‘25 - MIARTMilan's premier modern and contemporary art fair, from April 4th - 6th, 2025, at Allianz Mico continues to be a significant platform for international contemporary artist, Chris Soal.
FEBRUARY ‘25 - THE CAPE TOWN ART FAIR
The 12th edition of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from Feb 21th - 23rd. The theme "Celebrating Art, Creativity, and Exploration Through the Power of Play" resonated with Soal's dynamic and thought-provoking pieces.
FEBRUARY ‘25 - ZONA MACO
Chris Soal showcased his work at Mexico City's esteemed Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco from the 5th - 9th. As a result of this exhibition, he was granted a residency in Bolivia, where he will further explore and develop his artistic practice.
SEPTEMPER ‘24 - THE ARMORY SHOW
New York welcomed Chris Soal for the first time at The Armory Show. Visit WhatIfTheWorld webiste to enjoy the Soal enchancing experience.
AUGUST ‘24 - IOTA24
The second Indian Ocean Triennial welcomed Chris Soal’s sculptures at the John Curtin Gallery, Perth, Australia. IOTA ran from Aug - Oct 2024.
JUNE ‘24 - SOLO SHOW - ITALY
Vestige, Chris Soal’s latest solo exhibition, took place in Pietrasanta, Italy, in collaboration with Eduardo Secci gallery. It was a wonderful sight from the 7thJune - 14th July.
APRIL ‘24 - ART BRUSSELS
New pieces of Chris Soal appeared at the contemporary art fair Art Brussels, Belgium, from the 25th to the 28th of April.
APRIL ‘24 - MIART
Miart 2024, titled No Time No Space showcased international artist Chris Soal in Milan, April 12-14.
APRIL ‘24 - DALLAS ART FAIR
Soal’s undisputably unique works featured at the Dallas Art Fair. Represented by Eduardo Secci gallery, the art fair took place from the 4th
to the 7thof April.
PRESS
UNEARTHING LAYERS: CHRIS SOAL’S ‘SURFACE TENSION’
︎ by Misha Krynauw for Artthrob
PALIMPSEST: CHRIS SOAL’S SCULPTURES REVEAL MANY MEANINGS
︎ by Drew Haller for That Eclectic
INTERVIEW
︎ with Adam Hencz for Artland
INTERVIEW
︎ with Artoday
INTERVIEW
︎ on As below so above for Tongues
INTERVIEW
︎ with Emilie Froment for Habitat Magazine
AMORPHOUS - THE SCULPTURES
OF CHRIS SOAL
︎ by Andrew Lasane for COLOSSAL
JOHANNESBURG ARTIST’S TOOTHPICK SCULPTURES POINT WAY FOR AFRICAN ABSTRACTION
︎ by Graham Wood on Wanted Online
︎ by Misha Krynauw for Artthrob
PALIMPSEST: CHRIS SOAL’S SCULPTURES REVEAL MANY MEANINGS
︎ by Drew Haller for That Eclectic
INTERVIEW
︎ with Adam Hencz for Artland
INTERVIEW
︎ with Artoday
INTERVIEW
︎ on As below so above for Tongues
INTERVIEW
︎ with Emilie Froment for Habitat Magazine
AMORPHOUS - THE SCULPTURES
OF CHRIS SOAL
︎ by Andrew Lasane for COLOSSAL
JOHANNESBURG ARTIST’S TOOTHPICK SCULPTURES POINT WAY FOR AFRICAN ABSTRACTION
︎ by Graham Wood on Wanted Online
FIELD OF VISION REVIEW
︎ by Ashraf Jamal on ArtThrob
︎ by Ashraf Jamal on ArtThrob
CURRICULUM VITAE
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
COLLABORATIONS
AWARDS
RESIDENCIES
COLLECTIONS
2024 - Solo Presentation at The Armory Show, WHATIFTHEWORLD Gallery,
New York, USA
2024 - Vestige,
Eduardo Secci Gallery,
Pietrasanta, Italy
2024 - Surface tension,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2023 - Finds taken for wonders,
Piero Atchugarry Gallery,
Miami, USA
2022 - Remains to be seen,
Eduardo Secci Gallery,
Milan, Italy
2022 - Solo presentation at Art Brussels,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Brussels, Belgium
2021 - Elegy,
Nirox Foundation,
Johannesburg
2021 - As below so above,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2019 – Field of Vision,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2019 – Solo Presentation at
TOMORROWS/TODAY,
Curated by Tumelo Mosaka,
Investec Cape Town Art Fair
Cape Town
New York, USA
2024 - Vestige,
Eduardo Secci Gallery,
Pietrasanta, Italy
2024 - Surface tension,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2023 - Finds taken for wonders,
Piero Atchugarry Gallery,
Miami, USA
2022 - Remains to be seen,
Eduardo Secci Gallery,
Milan, Italy
2022 - Solo presentation at Art Brussels,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Brussels, Belgium
2021 - Elegy,
Nirox Foundation,
Johannesburg
2021 - As below so above,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2019 – Field of Vision,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2019 – Solo Presentation at
TOMORROWS/TODAY,
Curated by Tumelo Mosaka,
Investec Cape Town Art Fair
Cape Town
2024 - My World curated by Hans den Hartog Jager, Singer Laren, Laren, Netherlands.
2024 - Collection Majudia, Selection of Works from the Collection - Summer 2024, Arsenal Contemporary, Montreal, Canada.
2024 - IOTA24, John Curtin Gallery, Perth, Australia.
2023 - l’Art de Rien,
CENTRALE
Brussels, Belgium
2022 - To Whistle Back,
Oude Leeskamer, Stellenbosch,
South Africa
2022 - A Quiet New Focus,
Villa Legodi Centre for Sculpture,
Johannesburg, South Africa
2022 - Seeds of the Fig, Krone x WHATIFTHEWORLD, curated by RESEVOIR, Tulbagh, South Africa
2022 - Earth Power!,
Montoro 12,
Brussels, Belgium
2022 - The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize Finalists Exhibition,
Norval Foundation,
Cape Town
2021 - In Times Like These...and Other Stories,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2021 - Witness, curated by Natasha Becker
Piero Atchugarry Gallery, Miami
2021 - 40 under 40, curated by Igsaan Martin.
Twee Jonge Gezellen Wine Estate, Krone x WHATIFTHEWORLD, Tulbagh
2021 - Margins of Error,
Nirox Sculpture Park,
Johannesburg
2020 – Matereality
Iziko South African National Gallery
Cape Town
2019 – Process
BKhz,
Braamfontein
2019 – Il est une fois à l’Ouest
Frac Nouvelle-Aquitaine MÉCA
Bordeaux, France
2018 – Germination
RAW Material Company
Dakar, Senegal
2018 – Forward?
Curated by Ulrich Wolff and Elizabeth Miller-Vermeulen,
Stellenbosch University Museum,
Stellenbosch
2018 – Fresh Voices
Guns and Rain Gallery
Johannesburg
2017 – NEWWORK19
Wits Art Museum
Johannesburg
2016 – Activate/Captivate: Collections Re-engagement
Wits Art Museum
Johannesburg
2020 – Selected as one of ten contemporary artists to participate in the 5th edition of the Dior Lady Art project.
2024 – African Leadership Initiative - Young Leaders Fellow (5th Class).
2021 – Finalist, Norval Sovereign African Art Prize, Cape Town, South Africa.
2020 – Recipient of The Claire & Edoardo Villa Will Trust Grant.
2019 – SEED Award
Presented by the Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA) - For career acknolwedgment.
2018 – PPC Imaginarium Award, Overall winner, and winner of the Sculpture category.
2021 – Finalist, Norval Sovereign African Art Prize, Cape Town, South Africa.
2020 – Recipient of The Claire & Edoardo Villa Will Trust Grant.
2019 – SEED Award
Presented by the Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA) - For career acknolwedgment.
2018 – PPC Imaginarium Award, Overall winner, and winner of the Sculpture category.
2022 - SAFFCA.EU, La Cambre, Brussels, Belgium
2021 - Nirox Foundation Residency, Nirox Sculpture Park, Johannesburg
2019 – Roma Residenza, hosted by Montoro 12, Rome
2018 – Fellow of the RAW Academié Session 5, directed by Otobong Nkanga. RAW Material Company. Dakar, Senegal
2018 – Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art. Co-resident with Minnette Vari. Entabeni Farm, Knysna
2021 - Nirox Foundation Residency, Nirox Sculpture Park, Johannesburg
2019 – Roma Residenza, hosted by Montoro 12, Rome
2018 – Fellow of the RAW Academié Session 5, directed by Otobong Nkanga. RAW Material Company. Dakar, Senegal
2018 – Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art. Co-resident with Minnette Vari. Entabeni Farm, Knysna
Chris Soal has works in numerous private and public collections, both in South Africa and Internationally. Notable collections include:
The Brooklyn Museum, USA.
The Bunker Artspace, (The Beth Rudin DeWoody collection), USA.
The Braunsfelder Family Collection, Germany.
The Darlene and Jorge M. Perez Collection, Miami, USA.
The Kelly and Scott Mueller Collection, USA.
The Renee and Robert Drake Collection, Netherlands.
Frédéric de Goldschmidt Collection - Cloud Seven, Brussels.
Scheryn Art Collection, South Africa.
Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA), South Africa, France, Belgium.
Kavita Chellaram Art collection, London, Lagos.
Martin Nielsen Collection, Denmark.
MONA - The Museum of Old and New Art, Tasmania, Australia.
The Trevor Noah Collection, South Africa & USA.
LAM Museum, Lisse, Netherlands.
Arsenal Contemporary, Montreal; Toronto; New York.
MACAAL Museum, Morocco.
Francesca Lavazza Collection, Turin, Italy.
The Brooklyn Museum, USA.
The Bunker Artspace, (The Beth Rudin DeWoody collection), USA.
The Braunsfelder Family Collection, Germany.
The Darlene and Jorge M. Perez Collection, Miami, USA.
The Kelly and Scott Mueller Collection, USA.
The Renee and Robert Drake Collection, Netherlands.
Frédéric de Goldschmidt Collection - Cloud Seven, Brussels.
Scheryn Art Collection, South Africa.
Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA), South Africa, France, Belgium.
Kavita Chellaram Art collection, London, Lagos.
Martin Nielsen Collection, Denmark.
MONA - The Museum of Old and New Art, Tasmania, Australia.
The Trevor Noah Collection, South Africa & USA.
LAM Museum, Lisse, Netherlands.
Arsenal Contemporary, Montreal; Toronto; New York.
MACAAL Museum, Morocco.
Francesca Lavazza Collection, Turin, Italy.
INFORMATION
BIOGRAPHY
Portrait by Matt Slater.
Chris Soal (b. 1994) is an award-winning, emerging South African artist.
Soal’s studio-based practice is sculptural in its output, working with objects and materials in ways which show not only a conceptual engagement with the contexts and histories of the objects, but that also re-enforce the body as a site for knowledge reception and production. Soal’s works seek to make a poetic statement through the simplest of means, engaging the viewer’s spatial awareness and perceptual habits while challenging core societal preconceptions of value and hierarchy.
Through his use of discarded and mundane ephemera, such as toothpicks and bottle caps, along with concrete, rebar, electric fencing cable, sandpaper and other industrial materials, the artist intuitively develops the familiar to the point of the uncanny. Soal’s works can be considered as a social abstraction that is deeply rooted in, and reflective of, having grown up in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Working symbiotically with his materials, Soal utilises the inherent physical characteristics of the objects to transform them through processes of aggregation, combination and erosion to interrogate views of nature and culture as a binary concept – seeking to foreground pressing ecological concerns by repositioning the viewer as an active agent within the contemporary environment. Despite the artificiality of his materials, Soal’s process allows the materials to take on biomorphic qualities or evoke natural phenomena, expressing his interest in the phenomenological quality of the materials.
NEWS
APRIL ‘25 - DALLAS ART FAIR
Taking place in Dallas from April 10th-13th, 2025, the Dallas Art Fair will explore the theme 'The Importance of Art Amid Social Unrest.' Pierro Atchugarry Gallery will be participating in this important event, showcasing Soal’s work.
APRIL ‘25 - MIART
Milan's premier modern and contemporary art fair, from April 4th - 6th, 2025, at Allianz Mico continues to be a significant platform for international contemporary artist, Chris Soal.
APRIL ‘25 - SP Arte
Hosted in São Paulo from April 2nd-6th, 2025, the Latin American Art Fair showcases the best of contemporary art. Pierro Atchugarry Gallery is proud to present a curated selection of Soal’s works at this prestigious event.
FEBRUARY ‘25 - THE CAPE TOWN ART FAIR
The 12th edition of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from Feb 21th - 23rd. The theme "Celebrating Art, Creativity, and Exploration Through the Power of Play" resonated with Soal's dynamic and thought-provoking pieces.
FEBRUARY ‘25 - ZONA MACO
Chris Soal showcased his work at Mexico City's esteemed Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco from the 5th - 9th. As a result of this exhibition, he was granted a residency in Bolivia, where he will further explore and develop his artistic practice.
SEPTEMPER ‘24 - THE ARMORY SHOW
New York welcomed Chris Soal for the first time at The Armory Show. Visit WhatIfTheWorld webiste to enjoy the Soal enchancing experience.
AUGUST ‘24 - IOTA24
The second Indian Ocean Triennial welcomed Chris Soal’s sculptures at the John Curtin Gallery, Perth, Australia. IOTA ran from Aug - Oct 2024.
JUNE ‘24 - SOLO SHOW - ITALY
Vestige, Chris Soal’s latest solo exhibition, took place in Pietrasanta, Italy, in collaboration with Eduardo Secci gallery. It was a wonderful sight from the 7th June - 14th July.
APRIL ‘24 - ART BRUSSELS
New pieces of Chris Soal appeared at the contemporary art fair Art Brussels, Belgium, from the 25th to the 28th of April.
APRIL ‘24 - MIART
Miart 2024, titled No Time No Space showcased international artist Chris Soal in Milan, April 12-14.
APRIL ‘24 - DALLAS ART FAIR
Soal’s undisputably unique works featured at the Dallas Art Fair. Represented by Eduardo Secci gallery, the art fair took place from the 4th
to the 7th of April.
Taking place in Dallas from April 10th-13th, 2025, the Dallas Art Fair will explore the theme 'The Importance of Art Amid Social Unrest.' Pierro Atchugarry Gallery will be participating in this important event, showcasing Soal’s work.
APRIL ‘25 - MIART
Milan's premier modern and contemporary art fair, from April 4th - 6th, 2025, at Allianz Mico continues to be a significant platform for international contemporary artist, Chris Soal.
APRIL ‘25 - SP Arte
Hosted in São Paulo from April 2nd-6th, 2025, the Latin American Art Fair showcases the best of contemporary art. Pierro Atchugarry Gallery is proud to present a curated selection of Soal’s works at this prestigious event.
FEBRUARY ‘25 - THE CAPE TOWN ART FAIR
The 12th edition of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from Feb 21th - 23rd. The theme "Celebrating Art, Creativity, and Exploration Through the Power of Play" resonated with Soal's dynamic and thought-provoking pieces.
FEBRUARY ‘25 - ZONA MACO
Chris Soal showcased his work at Mexico City's esteemed Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco from the 5th - 9th. As a result of this exhibition, he was granted a residency in Bolivia, where he will further explore and develop his artistic practice.
SEPTEMPER ‘24 - THE ARMORY SHOW
New York welcomed Chris Soal for the first time at The Armory Show. Visit WhatIfTheWorld webiste to enjoy the Soal enchancing experience.
AUGUST ‘24 - IOTA24
The second Indian Ocean Triennial welcomed Chris Soal’s sculptures at the John Curtin Gallery, Perth, Australia. IOTA ran from Aug - Oct 2024.
JUNE ‘24 - SOLO SHOW - ITALY
Vestige, Chris Soal’s latest solo exhibition, took place in Pietrasanta, Italy, in collaboration with Eduardo Secci gallery. It was a wonderful sight from the 7th June - 14th July.
APRIL ‘24 - ART BRUSSELS
New pieces of Chris Soal appeared at the contemporary art fair Art Brussels, Belgium, from the 25th to the 28th of April.
APRIL ‘24 - MIART
Miart 2024, titled No Time No Space showcased international artist Chris Soal in Milan, April 12-14.
APRIL ‘24 - DALLAS ART FAIR
Soal’s undisputably unique works featured at the Dallas Art Fair. Represented by Eduardo Secci gallery, the art fair took place from the 4th
to the 7th of April.
UNEARTHING LAYERS: CHRIS SOAL’S ‘SURFACE TENSION’
︎ by Misha Krynauw for Artthrob
PALIMPSEST: CHRIS SOAL’S SCULPTURES REVEAL MANY MEANINGS
︎ by Drew Haller for That Eclectic
INTERVIEW
︎ with Adam Hencz for Artland
INTERVIEW
︎ with Artoday
INTERVIEW
︎ on As below so above for Tongues
INTERVIEW
︎ with Emilie Froment for Habitat Magazine
AMORPHOUS - THE SCULPTURES
OF CHRIS SOAL
︎ by Andrew Lasane for COLOSSAL
JOHANNESBURG ARTIST’S TOOTHPICK SCULPTURES POINT WAY FOR AFRICAN ABSTRACTION
︎ by Graham Wood on Wanted Online
︎ by Misha Krynauw for Artthrob
PALIMPSEST: CHRIS SOAL’S SCULPTURES REVEAL MANY MEANINGS
︎ by Drew Haller for That Eclectic
INTERVIEW
︎ with Adam Hencz for Artland
INTERVIEW
︎ with Artoday
INTERVIEW
︎ on As below so above for Tongues
INTERVIEW
︎ with Emilie Froment for Habitat Magazine
AMORPHOUS - THE SCULPTURES
OF CHRIS SOAL
︎ by Andrew Lasane for COLOSSAL
JOHANNESBURG ARTIST’S TOOTHPICK SCULPTURES POINT WAY FOR AFRICAN ABSTRACTION
︎ by Graham Wood on Wanted Online