About
in: @riley.axon
e: riley.axon.studios@gmail.com
d.o.b. 01/08/1996
n: South African
l: English [fluent]
l: Afrikaans [fluent]
l: German [learning]
Available globally.
Riley Axon is a visual artist working across film, photography, graphic design, and painting, at the intersection of analogue process and AI-assisted tools. Their practice is driven by curiosity and experimentation, using image-making to build visual worlds and explore themes of identity, belonging, and queerness.
Alongside an artistic practice, Riley works within the film industry, collaborating with directors and production teams across commercial and cultural projects. Across photography, design, and painting, Riley’s work is process-led and image-driven, often combining hand-made elements with emerging tools.
Whether filming content, shaping a visual system, or creating a standalone artwork, the focus remains on clarity of idea, strong visual language, and work that feels human, textured, and considered.
Riley Axon ist eine visuelle Künstlerin, die an der Schnittstelle von Film, Fotografie, Grafikdesign und Malerei arbeitet und analoge Prozesse mit KI-gestützten Werkzeugen verbindet. Ihre Praxis ist geprägt von Neugier und Experimentierfreude und nutzt Bildgestaltung, um visuelle Welten zu schaffen und Fragen von Identität, Zugehörigkeit und Queerness zu erforschen.
Neben der freien künstlerischen Arbeit ist Riley in der Filmbranche tätig und arbeitet mit Regisseur*innen und Produktionsteams an kommerziellen und kulturellen Projekten. Ihr Aufgabenfeld umfasst visuelle Recherche, Regie-Treatments, Storyboards, Behind-the-Scenes-Inhalte und Location-Recherche und unterstützt Projekte von der frühen Idee bis in die Vorproduktion.
In Fotografie, Design und Malerei ist Rileys Arbeit prozessorientiert und bildgetrieben und verbindet handwerkliche Elemente mit neuen Technologien. Ob bei der Entwicklung eines Filmkonzepts, eines visuellen Systems oder eines eigenständigen Kunstwerks steht stets die Klarheit der Idee, eine präzise Bildsprache und eine menschliche, greifbare Ästhetik im Mittelpunkt.
CV
Work Experience
- In-house Creative,
Robot,
Cape Town,
2023 - 2026
- Contributed to the creative development of commercial and cultural film projects through research and treatments.
- Produced pitch decks, storyboards, and AI-assisted visualisations.
- Captured and edited BTS content for social and promotional use.
- Supported production teams with location research, decks and presentation materials.
- Retail store manager,
at Duck Duck Goose,
Cape Town, 2022 - 2023.
Tasks included:
- Day-to-day store operations.
- Trained store staff.
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Managed inventory.
-
Drove sales.
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Handled customer enquiries and issues.
- Factory manager,
at The Art Room,
Johannesburg, 2021 - 2022.
Tasks include:
-
Directed and oversaw all daily production operations ensuring timely outputs and high-quality standards.
-
Provided leadership, training and performance guidance.
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Planned and coordinated production schedules.
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Implemented and enforced safety and quality control procedures.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams (e.g., supply, maintenance, gallery staff) to ensure seamless operations and enhance customer satisfaction.
Education
- AI Filmmaking Course,
Curious Refuge, 2025.
AI-assisted storytelling, storyboarding, and post-production workflows.
- Graphic Design,
Academy of Digital Arts, 2022.
- Concept-led visual communication and design fundamentals.
- Business Acumen for Artists,
Cape Town Creative Academy, 2022.
- Pricing, contracts, and soft skills needed for a creative practice.
- Human Resource Management Boland College & CPUT, 2019.
- Training in people management, organisational behaviour, labour relations, and performance development, with a focus on leadership, communication, and building healthy, functional teams.
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Software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Premiere Pro
- Runway
- Nano Banana Pro
- Figma
Group Exhibitions- Snag and Sleigh,
Snag Gallery,
Cape Town, 2025.
- Walk with me,
ArtBankSA,
virtual (artist-led), 2024.
- Intimate histories,
Latitudes Online,
virtual, 2023.
- Together,
AVA Gallery,
Cape Town, 2022.
- Blue Tape series,
P72,
Johannesburg, 2021.
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Solo Exhibitions
- R.A.W.,
Kitsune,
Arist-led,
Cape Town, 2024.
- 100% Design x Decorex Joburg,
Showcase, 2023.
- It doesn’t have to be this way,
Artist-led,
Johannesburg, 2021.
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Collaborations
- NISH x Cape Town Furniture Week,
Cape Town, 2024.
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Graphic Design Projects
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Social Media Designs
Awards & Publications- Dazed Clubbers share their photo stories from 2025, Dazed Digital, 2025.
- PESP4 Program art funding program, ArtBankSA x IZIKO National Museum, 2024.
- Design Indaba Emerging Creative,
Design Indaba, 2023.
- PESP4 Program art funding program,
ArtBankSA x IZIKO National Museum, 2023.
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Portfolio