Johann Louw was born in 1965 in Bellville, South Africa. He currently lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa. Louw graduated with a Masters in Fine Art from Stellenbosch University in 1992, and has since exhibited widely, both in South Africa and abroad. In 2007, the Sanlam Art Collection presented a mid-career retrospective as a tribute to Louw’s extensive output and distinguished career over the past two decades. This exhibition toured the country in 2008 and 2009, and was accompanied by a publication on the artist. Louw was awarded the Ampersand Fellowship in 2014.

Most recently Louw’s work has been included in the RMB Latitudes Art Fair with SMAC Gallery, at Shepstone Gardens, in Johannesburg & the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, in Cape Town, both in South Africa, in 2023. Louw’s work has been shown in a number of group shows including Art Brussels (SMAC Gallery), Tour & Taxis, Brussels, Belgium. Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town, South Africa (2022); Opening Exhibition, FNB Art Joburg, SMAC Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa (2021). SHAPING THINGS: An exploration of clay and ceramics in contemporary South African art practice at SMAC Gallery in Stellenbosch; and A Show of Solidarity at SMAC Gallery in Cape Town, in support of the South African Solidarity Fund during an enforced nation-wide lockdown, both in 2020.

In 2019, SMAC Gallery presented Louw’s body of work at the SOLO section at FNB Art Joburg at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. His work was also included in the Ampersand Award 21 years celebration exhibition, curated by Gordon Froud at the University of Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Earlier that year Louw presented a solo exhibition, entitled Lacrimosa, at SMAC Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2018, Louw presented a solo booth with SMAC Gallery at Istanbul Contemporary in Istanbul, Turkey; participated in a group show, entitled Endless Horizons Gráfica Sudafricana, at the Mexican Art Expo in Mexico City, Mexico and, Forward? Forward! Forward... at Stellenbosch University Museum in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

In 2009, Louw was selected to form part of Linguaggi del Mondo: Languages of the World an official collateral exhibition to the 53rd Venice Biennale in 2009. In 2010, he exhibited in Environmental Concern and Human Existence at the 4th Beijing International Art Biennale, China, and Paralleli – the official exhibition of the Sabbionetta Biennale for Contemporary Art in Italy. He was included in Home Truths, curated by Micheal Godby, at the Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town, and later at the Sanlam Art Gallery in Belville. In the same year, the Association of Visual Art (AVA) Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa presented a solo exhibition of works by Johann Louw, entitled AVA Alumni: Johann Louw.

Earlier solo exhibitions include:  Der Abschied at SMAC Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2017; Loog at SMAC Gallery in Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2016; New Paintings in 2010 at SMAC in Stellenbosch, Terugkoms van Cythera (Return from Cythera) in 2013 at SMAC in Cape Town and Gestaltes, an exhibition of large scale works on paper at SMAC in Cape Town, in 2014. The University of Johannesburg Art Gallery presented his Et in Arcadia Ego in 2013.

Selected collections include: Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa; Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa; Sasol Art Collection, Johannesburg, South Africa and the Spier Art Collection, Cape Town, South Africa.