Clint Strydom South African, b. 1973
Clint’s practice is grounded in an intuitive ability to capture the emotional undercurrents of the environments he explores — whether the pulsing heart of a city or the quiet resilience of rural life.
Clint Strydom (b. 1973, Johannesburg) is a South African photographer, lens-based artist, and visual storyteller whose bold visual language fuses fine art, documentary, and street photography. His work explores the emotional undercurrents of contemporary life, whether in the pulsing heart of a city or the quiet resilience of rural landscapes, resulting in textured imagery that resonates across borders and disciplines. Raised on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, Clint’s early connection to the ocean, natural landscapes, and slower rhythms of coastal life instilled a sensitivity to light, atmosphere, and movement that continues to influence his visual storytelling. The contrasts between his rural upbringing and later immersion in dynamic urban spaces are central to his work; creating a unique tension between stillness and energy. His distinctive, experimental style is known for distilling multiple moments into a single frame; layering architecture, human presence, and ambient light to convey not just what is seen, but what is felt. In Big City Life, his Johannesburg-focused series, Clint captures the raw rhythm of the metropolis through immersive compositions that blend street culture, infrastructure, and emotion into images that feel timeless and alive. His practice centres on uncovering overlooked narratives and peripheral spaces, offering quiet yet powerful reflections on place, identity, and memory. His acclaimed series Hidden Shadows & Silent Voices, exhibited at Constitution Hill in 2017 and curated by Gaisang Sathekge, offered a poignant meditation on forgotten histories and marginalised communities. His ability to blend technical precision with poetic stillness has earned him global recognition, allowing his work to transcend context while remaining deeply rooted in place. Strydom’s visual storytelling spans both fine art and commercial spheres, with high-profile collaborations including Aston Martin, FIFA, the Mexican Hall of Fame, and Constitution Hill.
Clint’s early connection to the ocean, natural landscapes, and slower rhythms of coastal life instilled in him a sensitivity to light, atmosphere, and movement that continues to influence his visual storytelling today
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The Sunday Times: Hidden Shadows and Silent Voices
Clint Strydom captures tormented history of prison in new exhibition. 14 May 2017 By Tymon SmithTymon Smith, The Sunday Times, 17 May 2017 -
New York Times: In Celebration of Soccer Artistry, a Mix of Styles
FIFA world cup artistsJeffrey Marcus, The New York Times, 10 Jul 2010
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Hidden Shadows and Silent Voices of Prison Number 4
A spirit-evoking body of photographs 4 Aug 2025Hidden Shadows, Silent Voices: Prisoner No. 4 Clint Strydom's series 'Hidden Shadows, Silent Voices: Prisoner No. 4' was curated by Gaiseng Sathekge and showcased at...Read more -
Discoveries Abound at Second Expo Chicago Under Frieze Ownership
Twenty galleries were on hand from South Korea via a partnership stemming from the fair giant's relationship to the country. 4 Aug 2025Johannesburg artist Clint Strydom’s layered and collaged photographs were on view with Melrose Gallery, where he works, along with pieces by several other artists from...Read more -
Pan African photography exhibition Shifting Narratives currently on at The Melrose Gallery depicts African life in its diversity
By Edward Tsumele 4 Mar 2022This is an important exhibition that should attract a discerning collector interested in photography that captures Africa’s complexities and diversity. But are African critics up...Read more -
Melrose Gallery pan-African group exhibition at Sandton City's Diamond Walk extended
21 Jan 2021The Melrose Gallery is currently showcasing the Introspection - Art Of Contemporary Africa group exhibition, which features established and emerging artists from Africa, at Sandton...Read more -
Prizim Art Fair 2020
December 1 - December 21 9 Dec 2020Prizm is pleased to present a dynamic fair with layered programming that is sure to capture the eyes and minds of our attendees. With over...Read more
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The Melrose Gallery’s debut at Atlanta Art Fair 2025
A powerful debut Pan-African presentation highlighting distinctive artistic voices across media & generations 25 Sep - 31 Oct 2025The Melrose Gallery debuts at Atlanta Art FairRead more -
Shifting Narratives
A Pan African Contemporary Photography Exhibition 1 Mar - 3 Apr 2022The Photography Legacy Project and The Melrose Gallery present ‘Shifting Narratives’, an exciting group exhibition of photographic works created by more than 40 photographers from across the African continent. Presented...Read more -
Clint Strydom's Hidden shadows and Silent Voices of Prison Number 4
The Melrose Gallery x Constitution Hill 18 May - 27 Aug 2017The exhibition aims to capture and portray the essence of this nefarious prison and its impact on the people who were incarcerated here including the likes of Nelson Mandela, Mahatma...Read more -
The Real Heroes by Clint Strydom
FIFA football world cup fine art selectionDiscover Clint Strydom’s acclaimed fine art photographic series “Real Heroes,” created for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Powerful black-and-white images of children playing soccer capture the true spirit of South African football.Read more