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Originally from South Africa, Bruce Little found early inspiration in the Bushveld, an ecoregion in Southern Africa comprised of sub-tropical woodland and recognized for its diverse wildlife. This led Little to begin his career as a conservationist and game ranger, undertaking positions at some of the region’s most well-known private game reserves in Londolozi and Singita in his native country. Later, he spent a decade in the Eastern Cape restoring a former ranch to its original, natural state, which included reintroducing native wildlife species.
Artist Bruce Little working en plein air. Courtesy of Asili Fine Art.
Along with his roles as a conservationist and game ranger, Little is also a self-taught artist who has developed a practice devoted to the wildlife he has come to know intimately. Early in his career as an artist, he focused closely on the specificities of each animal, capturing their likeness in a photorealistic manner. As his practice has evolved, however, his artistic eye and deepening understanding of the animals allowed him to create works that express the emotional nuance of his subjects. This has resulted in pieces that contain abstracted forms and dramatic moments meant to inspire emotion from the viewer.
Bruce Little, Red Stag (edition of 12)
Bruce Little, Red Stag (edition of 12). Courtesy of Asili Fine Art, London.
Little’s ability to capture the essence and likeness of the animals he has worked to protect has not gone unnoticed in the art world at large, and he has undertaken numerous major projects that directly impact conservation initiatives. Marking the 50th anniversary of Longleat Safari Park in the United Kingdom, Little created a monumental bronze lion, “Dawn Patrol,” in 2016. At the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Gala, the sculpture helped raise substantial funds that were subsequently donated to a variety of environmental projects.
Bruce Little, Salmon (edition of 12)
Bruce Little, Salmon (edition of 12). Courtesy of Asili Fine Art.
Beyond his individual works, Little is himself dedicated to fostering and supporting community conservation and art projects within Cape Town, where he is based. Synthesizing elements of both cultural and environmental development and conservation speaks to his overarching ethos as an artist.
Little is represented by Asili Fine Art, a London-based gallery that operates at the intersection of fine art and conservation advocacy—paralleling the life and work of Little himself. Through the collaboration between Asili Fine Art and Little, the impact and reach of their conservation efforts are magnified and offers the ability to build a platform and community with shared values and goals.
Bruce Little, Black Eagle Bust (2008, edition of 12)
Bruce Little, Black Eagle Bust (2008, edition of 12). Courtesy of Asili Fine Art, London.
Ultimately, Little and by extension his oeuvre and practice relay a message of commitment and hope for the wildlife species depicted. By raising awareness through his sculptures—both small and monumental in scale—Little’s work is imbued with the desire to aid conservation efforts and simultaneously capture the majesty of the natural world.
Explore the work of Bruce Little with Asili Fine Art here.
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