Jono Dry

Jono Dry is a self-taught artist from South Africa, born in 1989 in Pretoria and currently residing in Cape Town. Known for his large-scale graphite drawings, Dry blends hyperrealism with surrealism to create visually and emotionally engaging pieces.

Inspired by his efforts to make sense of his relationships, Dry works intuitively, often discovering deeper meanings and coincidences in his art years after their creation. His work serves as a form of therapy, profoundly influenced by his experiences with anxiety and loneliness. The meticulous technique and attention to detail in his drawings allow him to produce photorealistic images that often feature dark, empty backgrounds, isolating his subjects and highlighting their emotional depth.

Recurring motifs such as kudu horns, flowers and plants, hummingbirds, and bandages weave through his pieces, each symbolizing different facets of his journey. The kudu horns represent resilience and strength, flowers and plants signify growth and healing, hummingbirds evoke a sense of fleeting beauty and joy, and bandages hint at the ongoing process of emotional recovery. These elements intertwine, creating a visual narrative that reflects both the fragility and the resilience of the human spirit.

Jono has exhibited his work both locally and internationally, including shows at the Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, the Vienna Contemporary Art Fair, and the Di Carta Papermade exhibition in Italy. His dedication to his craft is evident in each piece, often taking months to complete, reflecting his commitment to perfection and intricate planning.
Dry also shares his creative process and techniques through social media and educational videos, fostering a community of artists and art enthusiasts who learn from and engage with his work. Through his art, Jono Dry aims to bridge the personal and the universal, connecting with audiences on a deeply emotional level and shedding light on the hidden aspects of the human experience.