John-Michael Metelerkamp was born in Knysna, South Africa on 1 October 1982. He started painting late at 32 years of age. He did not go to art school, neither has he had any formal training.
His 'lost years' and struggles have informed his work; this, and living with current challenges have been a great catalyst for his prolific output over the years.

Statement

I feel the main impetus with my work is to destabilize my existence in the world. I draw on past and present and future, inadvertently mashing them together. I choose subjects with characteristics or energies of interest to me; prodding, scraping, digging into what about this/them/it I want to portray, in whatever way seems believable. The problem for me is always trying to exact how a painting is going to work.
More often than not aesthetic choice will dictate what happens on canvas and somehow inform the narrative in a way that is more nuanced + ambiguous : true to my experience. I am spurred on with mystery when life and paint meet.

SELECT SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023
‘Observatory’, Nel, Cape Town, South Africa

2022
’The Mirror in You and Me’, Nel, Cape Town, South Africa

2021
’Nocturnes’, Deepest Darkest, Cape Town, South Africa
’Province’, Nel, Cape Town, South Africa

2019
'Nekkies', Cape Town Art Fair, Berman Contemporary, Cape Town, South Africa

2018
'The Immortal Nekkies', Turbine Art Fair, Candice Berman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2017         
'Keepers', Candice Berman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2016
’John-Michael Metelerkamp’, That Art Fair, Cape Town, South Africa

2015
’JMM Pop-Up Show’, Knysna, South Africa

2014
'Untitled', Knysna Fine Art, Knysna, South Africa


SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024 ‘The Big Picture’, Knysna Fine Art, Knysna, South Africa

2023
’25 Year Anniversary’, Knysna Fine Art, Knysna, South Africa
’Canvases in Bloom’, Candice Berman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa ‘Wagkamer’, Nel, Cape Town, South Africa
‘Sunnyside Up’, Graham Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa
‘Optimal Vibration’, Graham Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa

2022
’Loud Speakers', Origin Art, Johannesburg, South Africa
’Spring Show’, Nel, Cape Town, South Africa

2021
’Summer Salon 21/22’, Nel, Cape Town, South Africa
’When Life Doesn’t Give You Lemons’, Origin Art, Johannesburg, South Africa
’Toll Gate’, Gallery-de-Move-On, Cape Town, South Africa
’Envy’, Nel, Cape Town, South Africa
’40 under 40’, KRONE X WHATIFTHEWORLD, Tulbagh, South Africa
’In Conversation’, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2020
’A Subtle Skill’', Knysna Fine Art, Knysna, South Africa
’WInters Pallete’, Knysna Fine Art, Knysna, South Africa
’Nostalgia’, DAOR Contemporary, Cape Town, South Africa
’March Group Show’, 131 Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2019
’Synchronos’, Knysna Fine Art, Knysna, South Africa

2018
'Allen and Overy War Child Charity Auction', Berman Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa
'Denis Goldberg Legacy Foundation Auction', S Art Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2017
Turbine Art Fair, Candice Berman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2016            
'2.99', 99 Loop Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
'Metelerkamp, Meyer, Canadas', Candice Berman Gallery, JHB, South Africa
'Transmutation', Knysna Fine Art, Knysna, South Africa
'1.99', 99 Loop Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2015             
'A|No Magazine Launch Show', Studio 7, Atlanta, USA
'Untitled', Luvey n Rose, Cape Town, South Africa

SELECT DUO EXHIBITIONS

2024
’FEVER OF A DREAM’, DAOR Contemporary, Cape Town, South Africa
: with Andrea du Plessis

2016
’In the Garden’, Luvey ‘n Rose, Cape Town, South Africa
: with Wilhelm Saayman