Natural Symphony of Art
With each layer added, the once mundane trees bloomed with vibrancy, inviting viewers to explore the depths of Samantha's imagination.
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Artist and Fine Art Photographer
MARTIN OSNER
"I am a painter trapped in a photographer's body"
Osner considers a camera as merely another instrument on the workbench of art. By combining photography with mixed media and by using unique in-camera techniques, this award-winning and internationally recognised artist has created the most incredible portfolio of exhibition prints which is an inspiration and a joy to behold...
FEATURED PRINT COLLECTIONS
The gallery is dedicated to showcasing a permanent exhibition of a father and daughter collaborative. You are invited to view Martin and Samantha Osner's private print collections in this quiet and serene environment.
Situated in the scenic town of Hout Bay, just a short drive from the centre of Cape Town central, the gallery is located on the slopes of the twelfth apostle overlooking the mountains and the bay itself. This is a serene place where time stands still for just a little while so that art can be enjoyed.
This creative space has been designed as a destination gallery, away from the hustle and bustle, so viewing is by appointment as Martin and Samantha insist on meeting their visitor personally.
MORE VIDEOS BELOW
Learn the Art of Photography
TRANSFORM YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS
INTO INCREDIBLE ARTISTIC PIECES | ONLINE LESSONS
Classes are interactive and workshop orientated. You will learn to transform photography into art imagery fit for displaying on your wall. Traditional art techniques combined with photography like oil & acrylic painting, sketching, collaging, montaging, double exposure, and transfers are taught. Digital techniques are also demonstrated, but only as a supplementary method, the main focus is on hand-created art techniques.
These comprehensive workshops do not require in-depth knowledge of photography; instead, it is more important that you as a student have a desire to explore photography as an alternative creative medium within the framework of art.
In this course, the camera is seen as an alternative instrument on the workbench to create art. Over many years as a fine art photographer, I have developed unique and effective mixed media techniques that deliver an incredible artistic impression and transform photographs into a beautiful creative rendition.
“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” – Vincent van Gogh
Art Photograpy Classes
ONLINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY COURSES OFFERED
BIOGRAPHY
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa (1963), Martin Osner opened his first photographic studio in Johannesburg (1985), where he established a solid reputation as a professional photographer and artist. In 1993, he relocated to Pretoria and co-founded the National College of Photography, which today has become the premier photographic training institution in Southern Africa under Advtech, a listed company under the branding (Vega school). During this time he continued to run his commercial photography studio and earned numerous Professional Photography awards.
In 2008, Osner moved to Cape Town to establish a photographic art gallery, which opened its doors in 2010 under his name. At the same time, he ceased all commercial photography pursuits, as he felt that he had to devote his full creative energy to his art. Then in 2013, still committed to teaching, Osner opened the “Martin Osner Photography School” in Hout Bay, where he lives. In 2012, he was invited by Canon Europe to take part in brand video production called “Power to your next step - landscape and portrait photography”, a tutorial video that was packaged with new DSLR Canon cameras as an instructional aid. At the same time, he served as a Canon Ambassador / Explorer for seven years. Recently in May 2017, Martin expanded the gallery in Cape Town, and it was rebranded to the Art Photography Gallery. Shortly after that, in 2018 with his daughter, Samantha Lee Osner, who shares his passion for photographic art, they opened a private gallery in Hout Bay where they exhibit as a father-daughter collaborative.
Over the last twenty-five years, Martin has taught hundreds of students pursuing photography as a career and thousands of keen amateur photographers. In his work, Osner eschews “straightforward” photography, favouring a more artistic vision that accords with his visual understanding and spiritual appreciation of the world. A multi-award-winning artist, including voted the best contemporary international artist 2008/2009 by Arteque art volume 3 (Masters of Today), his photography is characterised by an urge to explore, with the willingness to experiment and a desire to create. Concentrating intently on an elemental form, pattern and shape, paired with an inherent sense of restraint, he bears out his belief that simplicity is the cornerstone of successful imaging.
Today Osner specialises in a contemporary portfolio of fine art photography, offering limited edition Gicleé and traditional black & white vintage prints, into a collectors’ market. His collection consists of ghostly abstract renditions, moody landscapes and social documentary and mixed media prints.
EXHIBITIONS
LINDEN AUDITORIUM – November 2007 Johannesburg, South Africa I Featuring: Selected landscape and abstract work IMAGING HUB GALLERY – October 2007 Pretoria, South Africa I Featuring: Selected landscape and abstract work VOIR GALLERY Pretoria, South Africa – September 2007 I Featuring: Extremity / Abstract / Black Forest / Majestic Flow STEPHANIE HOPPEN GALLERY LONDON – September 2008 I Featuring: Abandoned / Urban reflection / Faceless society GALLERY GORA MONTREAL – December 2008 I Featuring: Abandoned series CTAS – September 2008 Cape Town, South Africa I Featuring: On the move / Extremity / Abandoned KYK ART SPACE – June 2008 Pretoria, South Africa I Featuring: Abandoned / Urban reflection ART ON KAROO – June 2008 Pretoria, South Africa I Featuring: Abandoned / Urban reflection/ GORDART GALLERY – May 2008 Johannesburg, South Africa I Featuring: Abandoned / Urban reflection/ Unrestricted / Road to freedom / Road to freedom / City life THOMPSON GALLERY – July 2009 Johannesburg, South Africa “ A child’s gaze” I Featuring: Endurance / Children from Geluk / Seaside Fantasy / Christmas spirit GORDART GALLERY – July 2009 Johannesburg, South Africa I Featuring: The fingerprint collection CREATIVE BOOST GALLERY MONTREAL – May 2009 I Featuring: Abandoned series Unrestricted / Road to freedom / Road to freedom / City life EVERARD READ GALLERY – Cape Town. September 2009 I Featuring: Abandoned series Unrestricted / Road to freedom / Road to freedom / City life MARTIN OSNER FINE ART GALLERY (2010 - 2017) Permanent exhibition space - Cape Quarter Piazza, 72 Waterkant Street, Cape Town, South Africa - February 2011 (Abandoned Collection) - November 2012 (Ghost Town Exhibition) - April 2014 (Earth Wind and Fire | Analogous Anthology) - February 2016 (Abandoned - Retrospective) MARTIN OSNER FINE ART GALLERY (Opened May 2017) Permanent exhibition space - Cape Quarter Life Style Village (The Square) - Cnr. of Dixon and Javis Street, Waterkant Street, Cape Town, South Africa. - May 2017 (Downtown / Seaside Fantasy) - November 2017 (Abandoned Retrospective) - March 2018 (African Mood) - August 2018 (Medieval City) - November 2019 - Heartbeat of the Mother City - February 2019 (African Mood) - OSNER GALLERY PRIVATE COLLECTION - July 2019 - (Abandoned - African Mood - Majestic Panoramic - Arcane) OSNER GALLERY PRIVATE COLLECTION - November 2019 (Reverie - Candy Girls - African Queen)
AWARDS
“Children of Geluk” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Documentary | Bronze “Jesus Freak” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Digital Photography | Bronze “Autumn Impression” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Scenic | Bronze “Abandoned No.1” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Scenic | Gold “Abandoned No.2” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Scenic | Silver “Visitor” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Fine Art | Gold “Thomas Jewell” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Beauty & Fashion | Gold “Candy Floss” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Scenic | Bronze “Electricity” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Industrial | Bronze “Jurassic Park” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Digital Photography| Bronze “Lady in Black | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Portraiture | Bronze “Ceruleum No.2”| Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Fine Art | Silver “Urban Design | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Architecture |Gold “Audi TT” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Automotive | Silver “Orange River” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Scenic | Gold “Arum Lily” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Fine Art | Bronze “Endurance” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Documentary | Silver “Ceruleum No.4” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Fine Art | Silver “Industrial Rhythm” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Scenic | Silver “Extremity” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Scenic | Gold “Homeward Bound” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Scenic | Bronze “Eternity” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Weddings | Bronze “Solitude” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Scenic | Bronze “On the Move” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Documentary | Bronze “BME” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Industrial | Silver “Yolani” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Beauty & Fashion | Bronze “Thomas Jewell 2” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Fashion & Beauty | Silver “Dreams of a Beggar” | Fujifilm Southern Africa Photographic Awards | Category: Digital Photography | Bronze
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