For Johan Steyn, art is an intrinsic part of his identity. Growing up in the studio of his father, renowned South African batik artist Louis Steyn, he was immersed in the creative process from an early age. The scent of wax and paint filled his childhood, and he was painting before he could speak.

Though he only later pursued life as a full-time artist, the creative impulse was always present. From a young age, Steyn was drawn to colour, form, and the expressive potential of the human figure. His work is shaped by an intuitive understanding of movement, anatomy, and emotion, and he sees the human form as the ultimate artistic challenge.

Each piece begins with a subject that resonates deeply with him. Steyn is passionately and emotionally connected to his work, allowing personal connection and instinct to guide his process. He strives to use form and colour to create visual poetry—works that do more than represent, but instead communicate feeling, presence, and story.

In all his work, Johan Steyn aims to create an emotional dialogue between artwork and viewer—one that invites contemplation, connection, and meaning beyond the surface.