Werner Bronkhorst Higher

Following the sensational success of his debut European exhibition, HIGH, in Berlin, globally celebrated contemporary artist Werner Bronkhorst is going HIGHER. In association with House of Arts, Bronkhorst will unveil a curated selection of 14 high-octane works from his HIGH collection at the iconic Red Bull Hangar-7 in Salzburg, running from October 17 to November 15, 2026.

Based in Sydney, Bronkhorst has built an international following with his vibrant, hyper-realistic paintings, which feature miniature figures embedded within layers of paint. As part of a new generation of contemporary artists, he has attracted widespread interest across the worlds of art, automotive, sport, and music.

The Salzburg presentation follows an extraordinary run in Berlin, where over 7,000 visitors flocked to Potsdamer Platz over a single weekend. Captivating collectors and critics alike, Bronkhorst’s original collection sold out entirely within two minutes, generating a seismic digital footprint of over 24 million Instagram views and 900,000 interactions across the week.

Building on that momentum, the exhibition at Red Bull Hangar-7 pushes Bronkhorst's exploration of flight and human ambition into uncharted territory. At the core of the presentation is Bronkhorst’s recent boundary-pushing activation with Red Bull: suspended from an open-air platform beneath a Red Bull hot air balloon at 3,000 feet, Bronkhorst painted the sweeping atmospheric background of a canvas in real time as Red Bull wingsuit pilots barrelled past him through the clouds. Upon returning to the ground, the artist meticulously rendered the aerial spectacle onto the canvas, culminating in the headline work HIIIGH STAKES. The full behind-the-scenes feat can be viewed on YouTube.

Behind-the-Scenes

In collaboration with the House of Arts, this edition of the HIGH collection unites two symbiotic worlds: sports and aviation. The sky is at the center of the adventure, and the 14 carefully selected works capture the energy, freedom, and excitement of daring movements – and the immediate sensation of going higher, faster, and further.

Surrounded by the historical fleet of the Flying Bulls and Formula 1 racing cars beneath Red Bull Hangar-7’s soaring steel-and-glass construction Bronkhorst’s heavily sculpted impasto skies and hyper-detailed miniature figures find their natural architectural home.

"Berlin showed me just how deeply people connect to the idea of looking up and escaping into the expanse of the sky," said Werner Bronkhorst. "Partnering with Red Bull to paint at 3,000 feet while wingsuiters cut through the air was the ultimate adrenaline rush—it proved that painting doesn't have to stay confined to four walls. Bringing these 14 works to Red Bull Hangar-7 alongside House of Arts allows us to celebrate that spirit of daring athleticism and aviation in the most spectacular venue imaginable." 

Werner Bronkhorst is a South African-born, Sydney based visual artist known for his two distinct styles: hyper realistic miniature figures set against abstract sculptural backdrops and bold charcoal car drawings overlaid with dense text. Raised in Pretoria, Bronkhorst is deeply influenced by abstract expressionism, surrealism, and pop culture, drawing inspiration from artists such as Warhol, De Kooning, Haring, and Magritte.
Through social media, Bronkhorst offers audiences a raw, behind-the-scenes look at his creative process. 
Bronkhorst was recently recognized as a member of Forbes Asia's 30 under 30 for 2026.