Banditto Reveals Winners of Prestigious Residency Prize

Our partner Carel Nolte is one of the judges who decide the winners of the prestigious Banditto residency. Carel met Roy Ockers from Banditto via phenomenal SA artist Frans Smit, husband to Nico du Toit, brother of Carel’s co-founder at Ami Underwriting Managers (yep, a small, connected world!) Says Carel: “The Banditto team continues to do amazing work within the global art world. The quantity and quality of artisits competing for the residency has grown significantly over the years and it is gratifying to see how the Banditto team supports the winners and their careers.” More info on the recent winners below …

Banditto Residency is thrilled to unveil the recipients of its highly anticipated residency prizes, recognising three outstanding artists for their exceptional talent and contributions to the world of art. The esteemed first prize goes to Maximillian Goldin, celebrated for his versatile digital design and illustrations, while second prize is awarded to the talented artist Fanny Brador, known for her evocative paintings. The third prize is granted to Cristian Bara, an upcoming artist who uses a vivid array of intense colours and fluid forms in his work.

After an extensive and competitive selection process, Maximillian Goldin emerged as the deserving winner of the first prize and will be the next artist in residence at the Banditto studio in Tuscany, Italy. Nature, introspection, imagination, and play are at the core of Max’s artistic vision. Delving into the medium of tufting, he crafts mesmerising tapestries, each centred around the concept of Maxim’s, where every piece communicates a unique narrative. The use of wool in his work is deeply nostalgic, reminiscent of his childhood memories of watching his mother weave wall hangings on a loom. 

Maximillian Goldin

Artistry runs in Max’s bloodline, as he comes from a lineage of talented artists. His great great grandfather, Samuel Brunner, was a Czech painter, while his grandmother, Alice Goldin, remains renowned as a South African printmaker and painter. Max’s creative universe extends beyond any ordinary canvas; he is a world builder artist, seamlessly blending themes of Cosmos and Play to bring whimsical worlds to life.

Fanny Brador, the recipient of the second prize, creates art that is a collision of the 1970s and the 2000s. It is an animated tapestry of memories from childhood, present day pop culture, and the future. Bright colours, child-like marks, and scribbled words invite the viewer to delve deeper into their own nostalgia while also questioning what is real and what is make believe. 

Her muppet-like characters evolved from an escape from a traumatic childhood and represent the many emotions of a child. Her work also has a deeper meaning inspired by her interest in child psychology. It is common for adults to forget earlier hardship and hold on to happier memories in order to survive. The artist’s faux naïf paintings lure the viewer into her made-up and magical world that she held on to, like her childhood bedroom that became whatever she wanted simply by thinking it up. Further, she builds on the nostalgic associations of the audience by building an emotional tension through the use of bright and dark colors and cartoonish characters.

Fanny Brador

Cristian Bara, recognised with the third prize, has been acclaimed for his exploration of both figurative and abstract artistic languages, functioning in the sphere of emotions that encompass nostalgia, melancholy, loneliness, as well as joy, spontaneity, and raw vitality. His present artistic focus primarily gravitates towards abstraction, constituting an odyssey within his own psyche. He releases unfiltered expressions of whatever emerges from within, materialising as a vivid array of intense colours and fluid forms. This artistic approach serves as a pointer to the fluid nature of the inner machinations of the human mind. He perceives his inner cosmos as a Garden of Wonders.

“We are delighted to announce Maximillian Goldin as the winner of the Banditto Residency first prize,” said Roy Ockers, founder and judging panel member for Banditto Residency. “His exceptional body of work, captivating art and design, as well as his passion for story-telling truly embody the spirit of our residency programme, where we celebrate artists who seek to explore their creativity in all its forms. We extend our sincere congratulations to Fanny Brador and Cristian Bara for their remarkable achievements as well.”

The Banditto Residency is an esteemed residency programme that aims to provide artists with the ideal environment to explore and expand their creative potential. Founded on the belief that artistic expression is a catalyst for positive change, the residency welcomes artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, offering them a supportive platform to realise their artistic visions.

The programme offers artists an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in an environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and artistic growth. The residency’s mission is to empower artists to explore new ideas, experiment with different techniques, and forge connections with fellow artists, curators, and art enthusiasts.

The Banditto Residency prizes are a testament to the organisation’s commitment to supporting and fostering artistic excellence across various disciplines. With Maximillian Goldin, Fanny Brador, and Cristian Bara as its newest winners, the programme continues its legacy of empowering artists to push the boundaries of their craft and leave a lasting impact on the art world.