​Contemporary South African Art

Born: 1934 Pretoria

A painter of landscapes, still life, seascapes, figures and of abstract pictures.  Works in oil, watercolour, ink, pencil, charcoal and gold leaf.  A graphic artist, producing serigraphs.  A large series of constructivist relief paintings in gold leaf and oil; “Flower” series; “Fruit” series; “Underwater and Sea Images” series; “Rocks and Boulders” series. 

Studies: 1952-56 on a full scholarship at the University of Oklahoma, USA, stone lithography under Professor Amelio Amero, design under Professor Eugene Bavinger and painting under Professor John O’Neil, gaining a BA (FA). 

Profile: 1958-60 lectured in design at the Pretoria Technical College; 1972-74 lectured in design at the University of Pretoria; 1977-79 lectured in design and painting at the University of Pretoria.  From 1958 Managing and Creative Director of the Ernst de Jong Studios (Pty) Ltd, Pretoria; working in commercial and graphic design as well as in film.  In 1979 he opened the Ernst de Jong Studio Gallery. A member 

of the Board of the Bureau of Heraldry.  He has worked in the advertising industry from 1963.  From 1968 he has produced a large number

of designs for postage stamps; 1974 designed a tapestry for the Springs Civic Centre; designs for commemorative gold medallions in 1976 for the Transkei and in 1978 for Bophuthatswana; 1984 designed the “Cape St. Francis” pendant.  Has also designed several private residences in Pretoria, including his own.  1952-57 lived in the USA, has travelled extensively and frequently in the USA and in Europe. 

Exhibitions: 1956 University of Oklahoma,

first of 26 solo exhibitions in the USA, SA and Italy; he has participated in numerous group exhibitions from 1960 in SA, the USA, Canada, Switzerland, Italy and Belgium; 1961 Gallery 101, Johannesburg, joint exhibition with Robert Hodgins; 1988 Pretoria Art Museum, exhibition.

Awards: 1956 Letzeiser Award for Best Student, University of Oklahoma; 1987 Dashing/SDSA Crystal Award for Outstanding Design Achievement.  

Represented: Ann Bryant Gallery, East London; Hester Rupert Art Museum, Graaff-Reinet; Pretoria Art Museum; Rand Afrikaans University; University

of Natal; University of Witwatersrand.

Public Commissions: Over 30 public murals, including: 1961 mosaic murals, Transvaal Provincial Administration Building, Pretoria; 1968 mural, Jan Smuts Airport, Johannesburg; 1972 gold leaf relief mural, Banking Hall, United Building Society, Pretoria; 1972 mural, Natal Provincial Administration Building, Pietermaritzburg; 1976 two murals, Rustenburg Civic Centre.  1980-81 “Fantasia”, a fire curtain, the State Theatre, Pretoria; 1984 sculpture “Earth and Space”, Library, Germiston Civic Centre, Transvaal.

Reproductions by De Jong: Numerous portfolios

of his work have been printed: 1969 Oklahoma, 12 serigraphs; 1974 Springs, four serigraphs; 1974 Shells, four serigraphs; 1974 Dance, four serigraphs; 1975 Shield, six lithographs; 1976 Night Passage, eight lithographs; 1977 White Bird, one serigraph, included in portfolio by 10 SA printmakers; 1977 Western Images, four serigraphs; 1983 Flowers, four serigraphs.

References: Collectors’ Guide; Art SA; SAA; 20C SA Art; BSAK 1&2; SA Art; AASA; LSAA; SA Panorama November 1958, April 1976 & January 1984; Artlook April 1967 & September 1967.