ABOUT THE ARTIST

b. Cape Town, SA, 1983. Lives and works in Cape Town, SA and Ostuni, Italy.

STATEMENT:

‘Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than the one derived from fear and punishment.’ Mahatma Gandi.

As a Queer man I find myself interacting with the world from a multitude of perspectives. Growing up I felt that I lived in a world divided between beliefs that lay in opposition. Today my art practice is perpetuated by my everyday experience with opposition and seeks to heal and overcome feelings of fear and marginalisation through images that ask the viewer to hold multiple perspectives, accept disorderly forms and never to question what the heart desires.

Since 2013, Denovan has presented 11 solo exhibitions. He has participated in numerous group shows, at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery, Chandler House, Salon 91, AITY Gallery, Ebony Curated and The Irma Stern Museum in Cape Town. Since 2019, Denovan has been selected annually for the RMB Turbine Art Fair and the Investec Cape Town Art Fair. In 2014, Denovan was short-listed for the Vuleka Competition for his portrait titled Kouros. In 2016, Denovan was the first non Danish artist selected to paint the portrait of the IDA’s chairman in Copenhagen. A tradition dating back to the 1800s. Denovan’s work is featured in the Hans Porer collection in Switzerland, the Celvin/Uller collection in Sweden and the IDA Headquarters in Copenhagen. In 2017, Denovan was selected as a finalist for the Sanlam Portrait Award, and in 2019, he was granted the Bosch and Simons Art Residency in Chelva, Spain. Denovan is currently represented by 99 Loop Gallery in Cape Town, SOTA Gallery Online and Ebony Curated in Franschhoek.