Johan Vlok Louw is a South African novelist, fine artist, and curator.

Born in Cape Town in 1963, he served as a conscript in the SA Military,, after which he trained in Fine Art and Design, (Central University of Technology) where he specialized in oil painting.

Johan has been active on the SA literary scene since the publication of his first novel Eric the Brave, by Random House, in 2012. Since then he has written Karoo Dusk, (also translated into Afrikaans as 'Die Sirkel van Bekende Dinge') A Gap in the Hedge, and Sons of Mud. His next novel Adam Created is nearing completion.

He has built a career spanning literature, painting and cultural engagement, with novels noted for their psychological depth, vivid sense of place, and exploration of moral principles.

Johan has been long and short-listed for various awards, including The Sunday Times Prize for Creative Writing, The JCU Prize for Creative English Literature (Karoo Dusk) 2014, and Book of the Year 2023 (Sons of Mud) by the SA Literary Organization and Write Associates.

Alongside his literary work he continues to exhibit and create visual art, creating a unique dialogue between image and narrative.