About Artist Martin Osner

A Life Dedicated to Art, Photography and Mixed Media

Driven by a desire to explore light, texture, memory and mood, Martin’s work reflects a uniquely artistic vision — one that consistently seeks meaning beyond the surface. His artworks, which are held in private and corporate collections across the world, often challenge traditional definitions of photography and embrace a more fluid, interpretive approach.

Alongside his own creative practice, Martin is a mentor and educator, inspiring others to pursue photography not simply as a technical craft, but as a path to personal expression and artistic discovery. His teaching invites students to slow down, see differently, and create with intention.

As an artist first and foremost, Martin Osner continues to push the boundaries of what photographic art can be.

A Career Shaped by Art, Photography, Teaching and Discovery

Over the past four decades, Martin Osner has earned recognition as one of South Africa’s most respected contemporary artists. Working primarily with photography and mixed media, his art explores mood, memory, and emotion through a deeply intuitive process. His work has been exhibited internationally and is held in both private and public collections around the world.

In the early 1990s, Martin co-founded the National College of Photography — not only to teach technique, but to nurture creativity and self-expression through visual storytelling. His teaching has since evolved into a broader fine art focus, mentoring artists from around the globe through the Art Photography Academy and immersive creative retreats.

Among his accolades, Martin was named Best Contemporary International Artist at the Florence Biennale in 2009 and has received multiple awards for innovation in visual art. His work continues to appear in exhibitions and publications that explore the evolving space where art and photographic media intersect.

Despite the recognition, Martin remains grounded in a passion for artistic discovery and a commitment to helping others find their creative voice.

Artistic Mediums and Creative Approach

Martin Osner’s art is grounded in photography but rarely ends there. His creative process often extends into layers of texture, paint, transfers, and hand-applied materials — transforming captured moments into artworks that blur the line between image and object.

He works across multiple surfaces, including canvas, wood, glass, and aluminium, integrating techniques such as collage, salt-based processes, gold leaf, and mixed-media overlays. This layered, tactile approach allows each piece to evolve organically, often guided more by intuition than plan.

Rather than relying on digital manipulation alone, Martin frequently re-photographs his artworks during their creation, allowing photography to serve both as a beginning and a continuation of the piece.

This multidisciplinary method invites curiosity, encouraging viewers to step closer — not just to see the image but to feel the materials, textures, and intention behind it.

Working across diciplines

Martin’s work moves fluidly between painting, mixed media, and photography — each medium offering a different way to express light, emotion, and atmosphere. While some pieces are purely photographic, others are layered with paint, texture, and hand-worked surfaces. You will find examples of his work on the links below.

• Paintings – Acrylic-based works that carry the tone of silence, abstraction, and mood through brushwork and surface.

• Mixed Media – A fusion of materials: photographic elements combined with texture, gold leaf, and hand-finished layers.

• Photography – Image-making rooted in story and place — often abstract, always expressive.