About the artist

Justin Zimmerman embarked on his artistic journey in 1981, enrolling at the Vaal Triangle Technikon’s School of Art & Design in Vanderbijlpark, where he studied graphic design. In the mid-1990s, he began to seriously pursue his passion for art, initially creating wildlife pastels for a gallery in Pretoria. By the early 2000s, he transitioned to oil painting and began producing aviation art, a genre inspired by his lifelong fascination with aircraft, which began at the age of six.

In 2005, he became a member of the Johannesburg Art Society, exhibiting regularly at Zoo Lake for several years. He also held solo exhibitions in Pretoria and sold his work through the Henry Taylor Gallery in Johannesburg.

In 2012, Justin relocated to Cape Town with his family, where he shifted his focus to Moto-Art, primarily featuring motorcycles, while also beginning a series of landscape paintings. His work gained broader recognition when he was featured in the South African Artist magazine (Issue #47) in 2019.

Justin’s interest in military history and aircraft soon led him to explore military art, with a growing focus on historic aviation scenes, combat aircraft, and moments of wartime valor. His paintings often capture the tension, power, and emotion of military conflict with a strong narrative presence. These works reflect not only technical accuracy but also a deep respect for the individuals and machinery that shaped modern history.

In 2021, he joined the South African Society of Artists (SASA) and has since exhibited at prominent venues such as Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Rondebosch Art in the Park. Today, Justin continues to produce military and aviation-themed art—often his most personal and passionate work—alongside oil landscapes and occasionally works in pencil.