ABOUT | AuReT

ABOUT

Chris Auret (b. 1988) is a South African multi-disciplinary artist known for his unique painting style and inpiringly vulnerable work. After graduating with a BA degree in Visual Communication, he left the advertising industry at age 23, following a near-death experience, which prompted him to pursue his lifelong calling as an artist since 2011.

Without formal training, he has gained widespread recognition for his vibrant work on canvas and public walls. Auret’s distinctive technique features energetic brushstrokes, vibrant colors, and strong conceptual themes. His artistic repertoire includes painting, drawing, collage, photography, abstract art, film, sound, poetry, & performance art. He also enjoys working with a client to create commissions.

He divides his expression into Pop Art and Contemporary Art.

The Pop Art showcases his reverence for that which is “outside” of himself, such as wildlife, landscapes, and people - reflecting his belief in the interconnectedness of all things and celebrating this beauty. The Contemporary component explores his personal experiences as a young, white male in South Africa, covering themes of self-discovery, sexuality, masculinity, and spirituality.

A passionate conservationist, Auret actively supports various initiatives through the use of his work too.

In addition to esteemed artists such as William Kentridge, Van Gogh, Pierneef, Irma Stern, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Banksy, he draws inspiration from contemporary painters like Andrew Salgado and Chris Denovan.

Selected Exhibitions, Projects/Commissions & Publications

2024

"Conversations at HeArt" - commission by Foundever SA". My largest mural job to date, taking 4 weeks to complete, involving 10 portraits and 4 floors. This piece celebrated the power conversation has to bring people together

2023

Collaboration with YARNH - Cape Town based menswear brand. Circles of Intention Shackets - one of which was bought by Trevor Noah
Mural commissions for Goedgedacht, a farm situated near Riebeek Kasteel, SA. Included the Tortoise and Blue Crane
Collaboration with HERD - an organisation in aid or orphaned and displaced elephants, situated in Hoedspruit. Includes limited edition prints and merchandise
“This Is A Beginning, Not The End” - Exhibition in Amsterdam, celebrating LGBTQ community in Langa, South Africa. Worked in collaboration with photographer, Vivian Camphuijsen, where I conceptualised and created the backdrops for the photos of each participant
"Impilo - A Prayer for African Elephants" - invited to do live painting at the renowned, We Are Africa tradeshow at the Cape Town stadium
"What's Coming Through" - Live mural at Bazique Festival in collaboration with JN Golembo (South Africa), my fourth piece at this well attended event
"#OCEANSNOTOIL" Mural (Observatory, South Africa)

2022

Murals for Waardemark in Worcester of the Malechite Sunbird and Masked Weaver, largest murals to date
Mural for The Black Power Station of Miriam Makeba during the National Arts Festival in Makhanda
"Perspective in Relationship" - Live mural at Bazique Festival in collaboration with JN Golembo (Paarl, South Africa)
"#OCEANSNOTOIL" Mural (Observatory, South Africa)

2021

Lubanzi "Rainboat" Wine Label Art - South African wine (Fair Trade, Carbon Neutral, Certified B Corp & 50% profits back to hands which made it) - AWARDED GOLD IN THE SA WINE MAG LABEL AWARDS
Music & Poetry performance at Evoking Art Experience - Performing as Chris Auret & The Divine Discontent Experiment
Sustainability Institute "Dream" mural - Created in collaboration with young teenagers attending the school (SI, Stellenbosch)
Pro bono mural for the Dorothy Broster Child & Youth Care Centre - "Knysna Loerie" (Knysna, South Africa)
Foliumize Print Collaboration - Art to plant trees (Europe)

2020

Front Page of the Weekend Argus Feature - "In Our Hands" Commissioned mural (Seapoint Promenade, South Africa)
Save Our Seas Foundation & Wavescape - "In Our Hands" Commissioned mural (Seapoint Promenade, South Africa)
University of the Western Cape; Hope & Action murals - Two large scale murals inside the UWC medical campus entrance hall (Bellville, South Africa)
It's A Healing Process (2020) - an experimental online sharing with new artworks and prints released during lockdown in South Africa
El Buho x Stas - Elefta (Official Video) - Film and edit for a collaborative music video featuring Yanna Romano
"Elephant in the Room", Bazique Festival - Live mural painting & collage (South Africa)

2019

"Wild Dog" - Mural commissioned by Studio Bolland (Muizenberg, South Africa)
Temple of Reason Apparel Print - South Africa
Sustainability Institute "Sunbird" - Mural commissioned by SI (Stellenbosch, SA)
Faces of BHC School of Design - Mural commissioned by BHC (Salt River, SA)
Century City Arts Trail (CC Art Foundation) - "Peace of Mind" mural (Century City, SA)
Discover Bellville conference - Live painting and auction (Bellville, SA)
Greenpop Festival of Action - Resident artist and facilitator of 3 community murals, painted in collaboration with festival participants and local adults and children (Garden Route, South Africa)
Bazique Festival live painting with Cassandra Hellberg

2018

To We, From Me - 3 month Art Residency at the Imaginarium with Yanna Romano (Muizenberg, South Africa)
Generator Murals, Miami - mural commission
ValhallaLand - AfrikaBurn Art Project with Agust Helgason & Crew - (Karoo, South Africa)
"This Is The Place” Zine/Publication - feature included personal writing & photographs (Cape Town, SA)
"Take Nothing But Care", Sasol mural Commission (Vallpark, Joburg, South Africa)
Brynn Album Art for "Querencia"
Jeremy Loops Album Art Direction for Critical as Water

2017

Wavescape Artboard Charity Auction - With Maak Boards & Marti Lund (Cape Town, South Africa)
“Still Wide Awake” - Music video for musician, KhoisanBoy_Man (South Africa)
“Street Art & Cinema” Publication (France) - Featuring Four Corners mural
Sound’s Good Retreat Vol 2 - Co-facilitator (Knysna, South Africa)
Sound’s Good Retreat Vol 1 - Co-creator and co-facilitator (Knysna, South Africa)
Macassar Primary School - Madiba Day mural commission (Macassar, South Africa)
The Steezies Album Art for "Snorting Lines of Turmeric"

2016

Converse Celebrating Creative Spirits - public pop-up space & mural (Cape Town, South Africa
#1000PrintsNoFootPrints - Successful crowdfunding campaign, incl. Online & Physical Exhibition by Chris Auret & Friends (Cape Town, South Africa)
PechaKucha - Talk about life, art and crowdfunding (Cape Town, South Africa)
Alice Phoebe Lou - live painting for concert performance (Berlin, Germany)
Rabobank - mural commission, campaign take over (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Alice Phoebe Lou Album Art and Design for "Orbit"

2015

“Do What You Want” - Short film for Putter School (South Africa)
Greater Tygerberg Partnership - public mural commission (Parow, South Africa)
Journeymen - Portrait commission of "20 Journey" photographers (South Africa)
Mail & Guardian - Article ft. 8 of Cape Town’s top street artists to follow on Instagram (SA)
99 Loop Gallery - Cape of Good Hope group show
Edgars Club Magazine - Article ft. "Artists to Watch" (South Africa)
Resistance Art - public mural by Crate Collective in collaboration with Ralph Ziman (Manenberg, South Africa)
Space Between Gallery - group show (Woodstock, South Africa)

2014

Salon 91 Contemporary - Golden Haze group show (Cape Town, South Africa)
Muti Gallery - You Have My Word solo exhibition (Cape Town, South Africa)
Hop Hop Indaba - live painting (Cape Town, South Africa)
Nyanja Junction - public mural with Crate Collective (Manenberg, South Africa)
Medicine Sans Frontiers - public mural with Martin Lund (Khayelitsha)
PACC (Paediatric Primary Care Clinic) - public mural with Martin Lund (Khayelitsha)
Four Corners (Movie) - public mural commission (Woodstock, South Africa)

2013

Salon 91 Contemporary - One In A Million group show (Cape Town, South Africa)
Medicine Sans Frontiers - public mural with Martin Lund (Khayelitsha)

2012

Salon 91 Contemporary - Impression:Sunset group show (Cape Town, South Africa)

First Instagram live about my art process for men on Saturday morning. Also about why I do this work and the power it has brought me. 🙏🏽♥️

OFFERING FOR MEN:

I will be hosting another 3-hour “Art of Process” on Saturday 7 September in Cape Town. The theme is CHILD’S PLAY. As men, we all have an inner child. If we are not attending to this aspect of ourselves, we can let that child run the show, causing chaos in it’s wake. This process is an invitation to listen to what he has to say and integrate some of the playful gifts he has to offer.

Place: Home Studio, Constantia, CT (directions upon booking)
When: Saturday 7 September | 10:00 - 13:00
R450 per person or R700 per pair
Book before Friday 6 September
Contact Chris: 072 283 4236
Limited to 8 men only

ART MATERIALS, TEA AND LIGHT SNACKS PROVIDED

This practice is process oriented, meaning it is not about the final artwork created but rather what moves through it’s creation. It can be a playful, meditative, reflective or a powerful way to move through the inner and outer landscapes, hoping to give insight and acceptance to whatever arises. I will guide you throughout the journey, offering prompts and techniques to support you. You do NOT need to be an artist to participate.

Who is Chris Auret? I am a self-taught and professional artist since 2012, with a degree in Visual Communication. I have been an active member of the Mankind Project since 2019 and sit with a group of men every 2 weeks to do “work”. I am not a trained facilitator of mens work or art processes, however for 5 years now, I have simultaneously been attending mens circles guided by the Mankind Project and practicing as a student of Lindy Soloman who created ASTAR (Awakening Spirit Through Art). Previous participants of my offerings tell me I have a natural way of holding space which entices the creative spirit in others to come through. I have seen the benefits of mens work and art process in my personal life and wish to share this with others. (website: https://www.auret-art.com/facilitator)

With love,
Chris

OFFERING FOR MEN:

I will be hosting 3-hour “Art of Process” on Saturday 24 August in Cape Town. The theme will be FUTURE VISIONS. If you are like me, you’ve approached the end of a deep winter period and are ready to consider re-emergence again. Through mixed media and collage, we will be working with the power of creative visualisation to imagine your desired future and take active steps in bringing that future towards you.

This practice is process oriented, meaning it is not about the final artwork created but rather what moves through it’s creation. It can be a playful, meditative, reflective or a powerful way to move through the inner and outer landscapes, hoping to give insight and acceptance to whatever arises. I will guide you throughout the journey, offering prompts and techniques to support you. You do NOT need to be an artist to participate.

ART MATERIALS, TEA AND LIGHT SNACKS PROVIDED.

Place: Home Studio, Constantia, CT (directions upon booking)
When: Saturday 24 August | 10:00 - 13:00
R450 per person (CASH or EFT)
Book before Friday 23 August
Contact Chris: 072 283 4236
Limited to 8 men only

Who is Chris Auret? I am a self-taught and professional artist since 2012, I with a degree in Visual Communication. I have been an active member of the Mankind Project since 2019 and sit with a group of men every 2 weeks to do “work”. I am not a trained facilitator of mens work or art processes, however for 5 years now, I have simultaneously been attending mens circles guided by the Mankind Project and practicing as a student of Lindy Soloman who created ASTAR (Awakening Spirit Through Art). Previous participants of my offerings tell me I have a natural way of holding space which entices the creative spirit in others to come through. I have also seen the benefits of mens work and art process in my personal life and wish to share this with others. (website: https://www.auret-art.com/facilitator)

With love,
Chris

Was sent a poetic reel recently from a friend (thanks @myles.coza). It inspired me to share something. “Allowing Surrender to Truth” is the title. Would you want to hear more poetry like this?

If only palettes could speak… this one’s been going for years! It’s so heavy in my hand. Thick with memory. What you think it would say? 🧐

A small watercolour gift for my mom on her birthday. Happy birthday @caronauret, finally the Cape White Eyes you’ve been waiting for :) 🌞

Happy Womens Day 🙏🏽

I’d like to share an intimate moment with my love, Meg on this day in celebration of all the woman she is and all the women out there. I was brought up fixated with skinny woman, conditioned by the likes of Sports Illustrated bikinis and schoolmates suffering the same delusions that women should be thin in order to be appreciated in their beauty. If I veered from that framework, I was shunned. Now, however, after years of de-conditioning (and it’s an ongoing process), I see the female form in a whole new light. I honour her waves of change, her curves of life, her radiant shapes. I wish I saw her sooner. And I’m grateful I see her now. Her childbearing hips, her soft nooks of the nest. Her caring hands. Her nurturing eyes. I love and appreciate her. Not as an object but as a force. Like I do the endless and undefined ocean. A visit to her has an effect on me unlike any other. In her I feel alive and dying. Scared and excited. Everything and nothing. May the veils of our world continue to be lifted. May we be willing to confront the dark mess that lies behind them and change for the better. As men and women, may we celebrate our intimate differences and public equality. Thank you Meg for allowing me the grace of witnessing you and for all you give this world ♥️

Sneak peak at a current detail on the easel - sound on! Such an appropriate soundtrack to this piece by @kaetempest 🙏🏽

Sound on! Keeping things low key this winter. Not too much posting. Lots of making. Conspiring. Seeing. Listening. More making. More listening. Some singing. Some reading. Less shouting. More rain. Later mornings. More gallery visits. Deeper conversations. More hair growth. Lots of drumming. Plenty soup. Walk walk walk. Website updating. Dreaming dreaming dreaming. Loving loving loving. 🙏🏽

“Winter Solstice” - Something has died - or is it dying? I venture downward to find out. I leave behind the hustle and bustle of the world. The joy, light and the people I generally surround myself with. I leave behind my external expression; the reflection in others. And I choose to honour the inner realms. My petals wilt. I droop in bed. I wake up later and listen deeper to what is moving beneath the surface. There, I discover skeletons left behind over the years. Parts of myself dead but still part of me. Like ancestors living in the soil from which bears my fruit. Through their eyes, I begin to see. Through their tongues, I can hear my story… I quieten to listen. I light a lantern in the darkness to explore hidden chambers. Bravely, I walk. I don’t know what I will find around the next corner - yet something draws me forth. Or is it chasing me from behind? Even in the darkest times, I see the glint of something bright. Like a sparkle of a diamond. A diamond forged under great pressures - capturing the truth of a million moments. A pure reflector of clear light. Amongst the darkest of rooms, it catches my attention. It is now in my hands. At first it is rough - barely shining. My hands intuitively begin to work it. Cut it. Shape it. Some pieces are disregarded, falling, as the emerging form remains. Its as though my hands are those of God - no separation. I am dead and love is alive instead. Slowly it begins to look like a jewel. A jewel worthy of being in the sunlight again. 🌞@art.for.a.man

New works for future time reveals but signing got me feeling all sorts of feels 😇

Music: Moonglow
Musician: EnjoyMusic
Site: https://enjoymusic.ai

Landscapes of portraits for @foundever_southafrica - my last post for now (maybe a making-of still to come in the future!). Thanks to these beautiful people for allowing me true privilege of capturing them 🙏🏽

10 images of recent collaboration with @foundever_southafrica - see video in my last post! Gratitude 🙏🏽

“Conversations at heART” - commission for Foundever South Africa.

So excited to share this mega project with you all. Foundever is a worldwide customer service agency, recently launching its first call centre site in South Africa, in the waterfront Nedbank building. They put out a brief to 6 mural artists last year, from which my concept was chosen. This brief was called Conversations at HeART and desired a piece in this space which depicted the power of conversations. I asked them to choose 10 colleagues for me to photograph in different moments of communication. These 10 would be a symbolic representation of the whole company. And then I wove them together with my energetic brushstrokes, much like conversations and language connect us through space. May we be willing to stay in conversation, to listen deeply and speak from our hearts. More on this project to come! Gratitude for the opportunity to create such an experiential piece and for this gift of painting. 🙏🏽 thank you @foundever_southafrica for having me!

Music: Bullfest
Musician: Philip E Morris

Progress with @foundever_southafrica mural spanning over 4 floors

Bailey - Remember the call for men to enter a draw for their animal ally painting!? Here’s the award for Richard McEwan! 🌞🐶

Sneak peak at a personal work in progress - “The Dismantling of Narcissus”

Another @yarnh_sa custom jacket off the easel and on its way to the customer 🙏🏽🙌🏽⭕️

BTS clip for my recent Circles of Intention piece. ⭕️
.
Music: Spring Rain
Musician: Dural
Site: icons8.com/music/

Circles of Intention for Valley Shala in Hout Bay. These pieces are visual prayers and always have a brief of intention from the client. This piece specifically was to give the space an anchor, to hold it. It’s used for movement practices and ceremonies of different kinds. The shape of the space made it challenging to orient oneself in it. This mural helps to do just that. We used colours from the room to weave the mural into its environment, including the wooden roof, beams and floor. First time I’ve done 2 circles overlapping and also on this scale. Needless to say, client and Chris are very happy! ⭕️🙏🏽⭕️

🔥If you needed a reminder: Get into the WILD!
.
This piece was a collaborative effort with 3 other close beings last night. I started with the process of scrying, where I scribble randomly until imagery starts to emerge. We also passed our individual art around for others to alter, until it came back. My friend @ayogiclimbing added the lovely John Muir quote and horse and it all started making sense. My Wild Man is needed some attention it seems :) what do you see and feel!? Leave a comment! 👉🏼✉️

“Fathers and Sons”

The hands of time can rest heavily
Upon the shoulders
Of fathers and sons
Badges of achievements
Can pierce the chest
Of any common gentleman
All the boy wants deep down
Is his father’s love
No judgement towards his choices
And only support from above
All the father does
Is the best with what he then knows
No blame is hung around his neck
Each man has their own shadows
Together they can ring the changes
For all generations to hear
Son, be the father you could have had
And be grateful to be here

Artwork & Poem by Chris Auret
.
.
.
This piece came through after my men’s group meeting last night, which stirred me to reflect on my relationship to my father. I’ve come to love and accept him for all that he has done and continues to do. He’s not perfect. But neither am I! And so I have also started a journey of self acceptance through this men’s work. I am so blessed to be here because of him and couldn’t have asked for any better. Here’s to all the fathers and sons out there! Do you resonate? 👉🏼✉️

21 Art Processes over 40 days in 1minute! 👉🏼 Challenged myself to do a 1hour art process a day and share. The results are all seen here and in my Instagram feed. The potency of art processes to reflect off and as a healing modality never ceases to amazing me. Are you interested in this practice? I run group and one on one sessions. Message me to be notified of upcoming workshops or if you have any questions 🙏🏽
Music: Things Happen / Musician: Philip E Morris

“The Artist is Ever So Present”

All around me, I see art
Created through me
Often about me
And therefore, about us all
I see and I feel
I see a man living on fire
I feel alive
I see him learning to see himself again
I feel new
I see an artist
Walking the wire of reality
An audience looking on
I feel called to continue walking
I see time with hands and legs on the clock
And I feel the need to take time to feel -
And I mean, really feel
Here, I see my love
A woman of true beauty
I feel in love and of-love-expansive
I see the boy in me
And my mother telling me bedtime stories
I feel I’ve now grown old
And I’m telling of my own
I see chaos being orchestrated
Into harmony from noise
I feel, although I don’t have control
I can enjoy my own creations
I see a Magician, a Lover
A Warrior and a King
I feel stretched to my centre
Where I am strong, whole and clear
I see two snakes emerging from a grave
And I feel the dawn of a new age
I see a man and a woman dancing
A child watching
Encircled by a golden thread
I feel excited for my family of the future
A future I used to sit and dread
I see an old self
Masked with no voice of his own
Breaking free from his cage of separation
And I feel the power of harnessed anger
Of how my art leads me to my liberation
I see the feminine way
Of being open to receive
I feel my masculine desire
To take action and weave
I see poetry
Flowing through me like an endless river
I feel blessed
Honestly
To bare witness to the words that visit
And lastly
Again
I see myself
The One not hiding
And I feel joy to be right here -
Ever so present

Artwork & Poetry by Chris Auret.

👉🏼 see explanation in comments! Day 21 of 21 in art process challenge 🥳🥳🥳

The King

The king resides upon his throne
At the centre of his being
From there, the king shines outwards
Perched in power and all-seeing
The king is calm when chaos comes
And calls upon experience
The king is whole and truly integrous
Appearing in service to his audience
The king doesn’t bully
Doesn’t abuse his strength
For personal needs
Nor does he hand over responsibility
He’s in order to protect & never weak
The king is sovereign
And leaves a legacy of love
The mature king takes his joy
And radiates it from above

Artwork & Poem by Chris Auret
.
Art process 20/21! Only one more to go. What a time! Today I feel quite kinglike as I reflect on the journey of creating these artworks. Found a real groove in my practice which I know will continue. Created a new page for this theme of content @art.for.a.man. I’m calling on all my masculine archetypes to become a better man in my community, as the king does. I know the journey continues and with it, I will continue to break and and be reminded of my wholeness. And continue to share this journey with you. Bless!

The Lover

The lover rises with the morning sun
To revel in the beauty of life
The lover is connected to feeling
His passions keep him energised
The lover can go with the flow
And is boundless like the ocean
The addicted lover is a collector of things
To hide his true emotions
The impotent lover meanwhile
Lives in a world of grey
Hiding behind his work and limits
On just another boring day
The mature lover is wise and knows
The virtues of moderation
He’s not the idealistic boy dreamer
Rather hand-in-hand with all creation

Art and poem by Chris Auret (@art.for.a.man👉🏼)
.
.
.
Art process 19/21. Today was exploring the masculine archetype of the lover. I spent years here. Always chasing the highs, the next best thing, the greener grass, dreaming and not creating. Out of balance, aspect of the masculine kept me a immature. Sure I could feel but I was almost obsessed with feeling. Not wanting to get serious. And sometime I would be too serious, overworking to avoid feeling. Now, however I feel more connected to my feelings without indulging in them. I am less ashamed to feel. To be held. To embrace my romantic side. All in moderation. 🙏🏽.
For more of this content follow my new page @art.for.a.man 👉🏼

The Warrior

The warrior walks his path
His sword stored in his hand
The warrior is on a mission -
Off his path, he will not stand
The warrior is brave
and walks his anger through the fire
The warrior’s the creative destroyer
Burning his ego on the pyre
The warrior is fueled
by his mission on earth
The warrior treads light
Contemplating his death since his birth
The warrior’s no bully, no coward
nor martyr
The warrior doesn’t worry
He’s in control - a true master

Artwork & Poem by Chris Auret
.
Art process 18/21! This one is looking into the masculine qualities of the Warrior archetype. One word for this related to me: boundaries. For too long I had no boundaries and it completely f*cked my life. Knowing this archetype has made me say NO and focus my attention. What is my mission? Stick to it. Even though I may lose some “friends” along the way. More of this content on my new insta page @art.for.a.man 👉🏼

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM: @CHRIS_AURET

CONTACT

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

+27 72 283 4236

CHRISAURET@LIVE.COM

​

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM: @CHRIS_AURET

CONTACT