The Enthusiast (2025) – hand-pulled screen print by Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor (born 1979) is known for his ironic and self-reflexive paintings and drawings that explore themes of masculinity, selfhood and personal/cultural mythologies. His interpretations are located within the larger context of narrative art; indeed, Taylor’s work is immersed in multi-faceted narrative. Image–text paradigms or, in the artist’s words, “the subtleties between visual thoughts and language” are examined and teased out in the play between subject and title, and even the creative process itself – from concept through execution – performs its own kind of narrative, as Taylor draws parallels between abstraction and illustration. As such, his astute draughtsmanship is far more expansive than purely naturalistic observation: intuition, imagination and memory play pivotal roles in his multi-storied works – as do the disarming doses of humour and ridicule.

Since obtaining his master’s degree with distinction in 2006, Taylor has garnered a number of accolades: He has held over 20 solo shows across South Africa, Australia, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA; he has exhibited in numerous group exhibitions and international art fairs; he was shortlisted in the Thames & Hudson’s 100 Young Painters of Tomorrow (2013); and his work is held in numerous private collections globally, including the Woodner Collection (USA).

• 4-Colour screen print on archival 100% cotton paper (250gsm BFK Rives)
• Paper size: 76×56 cm
• Limited edition of 50
• Numbered and signed by the artist
• Hand-printed in South Africa
• Please note that prints are sold unframed