About the Artist

David Brave in studio
“Creativity takes courage.”Henri Matisse

The name ‘David Brave’ is a nom de brosse for South African artist & designer, Jandré Venter.

Artist Statement

I capture familiar landscapes – the land I know, places where I have stood, the natural environments I have physically experienced at some point in time.

Expressive colour and line carry each work. A landscape often moves between the recognisable and the abstract within the same painting. I work mostly on canvas, board or paper, in acrylic and mixed media. Each series starts with a simple idea: that a place exists whether or not anyone is there to see it; that we can look up and find perspective; that the very land can inspire us. I hope the work invites people in to look closely, breathe and simply be present in the space depicted.

– David Brave

Artist’s Bio

Born and raised in the Winelands region of the Western Cape, he completed his High School in Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province. The extreme juxtaposition of the rugged beauty of the Cape Peninsula to the harsh desolation of the Kalahari would later become a source of inspiration.

In his senior year he attains the Honours Award for best art student in the province, from the Kimberley Art Centre. He completes a National Diploma in Graphic Design at CPUT (then Cape Technikon) and pursues a career as graphic designer and later as digital media and marketing consultant.

The artist identifies with the biblical character David’s freedom and creativity, and the courage that it takes to step out.

A successful fundraiser art exhibition named “Migration” in 2015, served as a stepping stone in fulfilling the vision of becoming a producing artist.

The first David Brave Solo Exhibition, “Hidden Horizons”, was held in 2017 – a series of semi-abstract South African landscapes celebrating obscure places that exist regardless of recognition.

Exhibition viewHidden Horizons exhibition

A second series called #FindMe was created for the Freedom in Art initiative in support of Human Trafficking Awareness in Cape Town in 2018. The medium of ‘found maps’ symbolises location and displacement, while the use of acrylics on recycled paper addresses the ephemeral nature of humanity.

The second solo exhibition took place in December 2020. A series of abstract landscapes entitled “Twenty20” reflecting on the spiritual growth journey in the periods of isolation during the 2020 Corona virus pandemic, despite its challenges and disappointments.

The third solo exhibition, “Bread & Wine”, opens on 26 November 2026 at Jewell’s, Spice Route, Paarl. The series presents familiar local landscapes in expressive colour and brush work, celebrating the land that feeds us.

Human kind was made in the image of the Creator. Each and everyone on earth, by default, has the capacity for phenomenal creativity. Why do people hesitate, fail to step out? David Brave serves as a simple, ever present reminder that success favours the courageous.

“Progressively I am becoming David. I am extending my horizons, I am learning to breathe again, to step out and perhaps inspire others to do the same.”

Artist CV

Solo Exhibitions

2026
Bread & Wine, Jewell’s at Spice Route, Paarl
2020
Twenty20
2017
Hidden Horizons

Group and Joint Exhibitions

2023
Un-Curated, artists’ group exhibition, art.b, Cape Town
2019
Without Boundaries, Emerging Artists Exhibition, City of Cape Town Africa Day celebration
2018
Portraits, First Thursday exhibition, Knightsbridge Art
2018
#FindMe, Freedom in Art initiative for Human Trafficking Awareness, Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town
2015
Migration, joint fundraiser exhibition with father and grandfather

Education and Awards

National Diploma in Graphic Design, Cape Technikon (now CPUT), Cape Town
Honours Award for best art student in the province, Kimberley Art Centre, Northern Cape

Collections and Commissions

Works are held in private collections in South Africa and internationally, including Los Angeles, New York and Hong Kong. Selected works are produced on commission.

Enquiries