Arthur Brigg
Barrydale, ZA
Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and now based on the cusp of the Karoo Desert in Barrydale, Arthur Briggs is a painter whose work reflects a lifetime of creativity and reinvention. With a background in graphic design and over 25 years in the advertising industry,
Arthur found his way back to fine art during lockdowns, reigniting a passion that began in childhood. Working primarily in acrylics, his pieces often feature a unique twist—fluorescent elements that glow under UV light, adding dynamic layers to his vibrant, nature-inspired works. Today, his art is represented in local galleries, embodying resilience and imagination.
Artist Interview
Q: Can you share how your artistic journey began? What inspired you to start creating, and how has that initial spark evolved over time?
A: Perhaps it was destiny, but one night I was walking around the house with one of those electric tennis rackets which has an ultraviolet light to kill mosquitos, and as I moved to one of my paintings, it lit up. I hadn't realised that I'd bought fluorescent paint, so the waves and the sky appeared almost "real". I then began experimenting with fluorescence, incorporating it into the light of my paintings.
I come from a family of creatives, so it was a natural path for me to follow. My parents divorced and I moved to the city with my mother and sister. I never fit in with the concrete jungle and struggled in my teen years, so I started smoking and drinking, thinking that would make me more adult and sophisticated. Instead, it got me into heaps of trouble, of course!
I'd always been creative, but never pursued fine art specifically because I didn't want to have a career in the shadow of my father, who is a prolific painter. I also wasn't ready to face potential failures because I didn't think I would ever be good enough. I'd had a taste of the art world through my family members, and soon realised how brutal it could be - which put me off the idea.
Just before the pandemic in 2019 I had my first solo exhibition - I'd been painting in my garage purely for myself, never intending to go public. It was my wife, Paola, who encouraged me to go ahead with it. I was never more terrified in my life - but that night I sold more than half the work on display! When the lockdown happened a few months later, I couldn't do anything but paint - and I've never stopped since!