Claude Chandler

Claude Chandler (b. 1989) is a contemporary South African artist based in Cape Town. Raised in Durban within a family of artists, he developed an interest in portraiture at an early age before going on to study Fine Art.

Portraiture remains central to Chandler's practice, although his work extends beyond traditional representation. Through the use of text, symbols and layered mark-making, he explores themes of identity, communication and the ways people are understood in an increasingly digital world.

His work has been exhibited extensively in South Africa and internationally, and is held in private collections locally and abroad. In addition to his studio practice, Chandler is the founder of SideTrack Studios, a collaborative creative space in Cape Town that supports emerging and established artists.

Selected Exhibitions:

Which new trends or South African artists do you find inspiring at the moment?
I’m really enjoying the explosion in the local street art scene and it’s influence in mainstream culture.
It’s also great to see artists using Tiktok as a platform to showcase their process and/or work.

Which South African deceased artist do you most admire and why?
As of late Vladimir Tretchikoff. Kitsch is kool

If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled, 1987

Pick three artists who you would be honored to exhibit with – and why
Mustafa Mulaka, Xevi Sola and Emilio Villalba. Besides the fact that these are some of my favourite artists right now, I feel my paintings would make sense among their artworks.

How did you get started? Did you always want to be an artist?
From an early age I was immersed in the Durban art world, with both of his parents being talented local artists and prominent figures in the art scene. I grew up in galleries and studios and was constantly surrounded by artists. My passion for portraiture was cemented when, in 2005,I began a project of painting my teachers at Glenwood High School. This set off my career as I started receiving portrait commissions, as well as developing my own personal identity as an artist and increasing my confidence and artistic abilities.
I didn’t always want to be an artist, I also had ideas of either pursuing a career in acting (when I was much younger), Stripper after watching the movie The Full Monty, which is still one of my favourite movies of all time. If I focused a little more in school, I would have most likely pursued a career in engineering. I thought in high school that a career in computers was most likely but besides LAN parties, ultimately, I didn’t want to commit huge amounts of time behind the screen.

What are some of the key themes you explore in your work?
•    Digitization
•    Identity
•    Reinterpreting the traditional portrait
•    Pop and tech/digital culture
•    Reality vs abstraction
 
What should people know about your art that they can’t tell from looking at it?
The model, text/stamp, colour palette and stencil I use to create a painting is often influenced by a movie, song, clothing, videogame or YouTube video I was exposed to. I like taking elements that left an impression on me and put into my latest artwork or at least document or write it down, saving it for later.

Tell us more about your creative process.
I attempt to create paintings the same way one would code a program or render an image on a computer. I emulate binary coding by stamping words and numerals with paint until an image is formed. The result is a pixelated image etched in text

Do you believe an artist should use their platform to influence society? Why?
I don’t think artists are obligated to use their platform for such a thing nor do I think it makes for better artworks or artists. Personally, I feel art is much better at reflecting or mirroring the current Zeitgeist. Artists share their inside world with the outside and sometimes the byproduct of that can influence society.

Do you have a favourite or most meaningful work?
There is a portrait my father painted of one of his students that has always been a favourite of mine which hung in my bedroom throughout high school and university.
Of my own work, I painted a portrait of my cousin who past away which I have hanging in my house, which I never plan on selling.

What is your greatest achievement as an artist to date?
As of late, I would have to say it’s the launch of SideTrack Studios, an artist studio and collective. I am so proud of the space, facilities and community thus far. I can’t wait to see it grow bigger and stronger.

What are your aspirations for the future?
Growing my presence in the international market. Focusing on SideTrack Studios and hopefully develop it into a powerhouse art collective and institute within Cape Town.