MY STORY

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Born, raised and still living in a small coastal town near Cape Town, Eben Beukes has been drawing ever since he can remember.

Eben's appreciation for art was evident right through his schooling career, but never took it upon himself to apply to art school.

After matriculating in 2016, Eben underwent two hip surgeries the following year that led to a year-long recovery process of bed rest, weeks on crutches, and eventually minimal sitting time in front of a drawing table.

In 2018, Eben pursued his lifelong dream and started his career as a self-taught artist, exploring charcoal as a fine art medium through hyperrealism and a lot of patience.

Today, Eben embraces his passion for realism and people's disbelief in his raw talent, inspired to create realistic drawings with twists of surrealism to illuminate the fainter details of being human and giving life to emotions that tell a never-ending story. His charcoal drawings capture the shadows of light and texture of age, allowing him to produce thought-provoking art that addresses the parts of life where many choose to blur the lines of reality and dreams of idealism.

Early in his art career, many professional artists and art enthusiasts admired Eben. According to ART TIMES, South Africa's Leading Visual Arts Publication, Eben is defined as one of the new and upcoming artists in South Africa, "drawing at a level beyond his years", as commented in their June 2019 issue. A month later, The South African Artist magazine, the art magazine for professional artists and art enthusiasts, shared Eben's story about art being part of his everyday life in their July 2019 Issue No. 34.

Since starting his art career, Eben has been part of many successful group exhibitions.

These noteworthy exhibitions include his participation in the annual contemporary art fair, the Turbine Art Fair in Johannesburg in 2019, the campaigning exhibition to eliminate single-use water bottles with the Water Wars exhibition at the Art@Africa Gallery in Cape Town in 2019, a local exhibition to celebrate artists at the Art@Africa Gallery titled So Much Talent In Our Country in Cape Town in 2020, the Blue Dot exhibition at the Art@Africa Gallery in Cape Town in 2020, a collaborative South African exhibition hosted by the Zeitz Mocaa titled Home Is Where Art Is in Cape Town in 2020, Cape Town Art Fair at the CTICC in Cape Town in 2021 and 2022, the Whale Song exhibition at the Hermanus Art@Africa Gallery in 2021, the On Thin Ice exhibition celebrating marine diversity at the Art@Africa Gallery in Cape Town in 2021, and most recent exhibition that acknowledged and honoured the beautiful woman of our nation during South Africa's Women's Month, August, with This Is How I Wear My Crown exhibition at the Art@Africa Gallery in Cape Town in 2023.

Amongst the above-mentioned exhibitions, Eben entered the biennial Sanlam Portrait Award competition for the first time in June 2021. As a scholar, it was a dream to join this national competition. Surprised with his selection amongst the Top 100 portraits with his portrait 'Prosperity - Ukuchama II', he partook in a national group exhibition at the Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch, in 2021.

Upon his second entry in June 2023, Eben earned a well-deserved spot amongst the Top 40. His artwork 'Detached' was exhibited in the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery, Durbanville, alongside fellow Top 40 Portrait Award artists from September to November 2023.

'Detached' was featured as part of the Top 40's Traveling Exhibition from Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville, Cape Town, to the Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria, from 25 November 2023 until 28 January 2024. From Pretoria, the exhibition will move to the KZNSA Gallery in KwaZulu Natal and then travel to the Free State, followed by the closing exhibition in Bloemfontein.

Along with Eben's participation in group exhibitions, the most memorable exhibition was his first solo exhibition - Generations - at the Art@Africa Gallery in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, in June 2019. Weeks before the opening night of Generations, Eben sold all but one of his art pieces made specifically for this exhibition, leaving it to be an unveiling exhibition for his then-most recent artwork, 'Fragile'. Being in the art industry for just over a year, the attendance and appreciation for his work exceeded his expectations, with over 100 attendees.

"Never could I imagine that a young artist like myself would attract this many people and couldn't be more proud! Thanks to the Art@Africa team for supporting me from the get-go in building my brand. I will be forever grateful to work with such amazing people."

Apart from being an artist, Eben enjoys photography, using it to make his photographs and bring his subjects to life on paper with his charcoal powder and many erasers. His love for photography did not continue only with work but found its way into his personal life when he met his now wife, Chriss - a fellow art enthusiast and fine art ocean photographer.

While enjoying life and working together, Eben and Chriss faced an exciting yet challenging 2022 after Eben featured in a Belgium art gallery - Atelier Louise - Hasselt, Belgium, and ended his year with two hip replacements followed by another physical and mental recovery. Ultimately, they celebrated with Eben putting a ring on Chriss' finger and tying the knot 8 months later.

When looking back on 2023, South African media appreciated Eben and his art, sharing his story on television and writing platforms. In February 2023, he was featured in Huisgenoot, a popular weekly South African magazine, sharing his love for drawing hands and water and where he finds inspiration for his drawings. He was also featured on kykNET's well-known show Kwêla in March 2023, sharing his life’s story, how he started his art career, and the challenges he faced as an artist with hip dysplasia.

The 2024 upcoming exhibitions where Eben's artworks will be displayed include a solo exhibition hosted by Nouveau Design at studio 22Fifty in Gardens, Cape Town, and a solo exhibition held by Eben's represented gallery - Art@Africa Gallery - in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.

Spending countless hours in front of his drawing table, Eben opened up to many when telling his story about maintaining a healthy balance between work and physical and mental health.

Challenging himself daily, he ensures he stays active and connected to the world where charcoal is not the main focus. He strives to inspire many artists who have the misconception that drawing consistently and ultimately burning themselves out will be more beneficial to their art career than maintaining a healthy balance in life.

Besides dirtying his hands daily with charcoal, Eben enjoys spending time with his wife and their two dogs with coffee at the beach, playing guitar, taking photographs on film, or hitting the road in their old VW Beetle.