Jesse Tomballe b. 1986

Biography
Jesse Tomballe

° Antwerp, Belgium

 

Jesse Tomballe creates an imaginary world in which characters are portrayed in different situations. The figure and its surroundings gradually emerge while painting, with stylistic considerations taking precedence over the theme. A certain subject or character for a painting can have multiple origins whether based on impressions out of imagination, observation, art history or from memory. In some cases, figures are made up, at other times they are assembled from different sources, ranging from found imagery to people nearby acting as models.

Depending on the subject matter, he works on different formats and aims for a naturalistic representation. His main interest when painting figures or portraits is not confined to the representation of certain individuals but lies rather in their use in an allegorical sense. In this way, the artist wants to bridge the gap between reality and imagination.

Exhibitions
Works
  • Jesse Tomballe, Afterhours, 2026
    Afterhours, 2026
  • Jesse Tomballe, The journey, 2026
    The journey, 2026
  • Jesse Tomballe, Greetings from arcadia, 2025
    Greetings from arcadia, 2025
  • Jesse Tomballe, Picknick by the lake, 2025
    Picknick by the lake, 2025
  • Jesse Tomballe, The swamp, 2025
    The swamp, 2025
  • Jesse Tomballe, Wake up, 2025
    Wake up, 2025
  • Jesse Tomballe, The companion, 2024
    The companion, 2024
  • Jesse Tomballe, The treehouse, 2024
    The treehouse, 2024
Art Fairs
Bibliography
Jesse Tomballe

Selected exhibitions

2026

‘Talking Heads’, Hingene, BE

2025

BRAFA Art Fair, Brussels, BE
Art Brussels, Brussels, BE
'People on Sunday', Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, Antwerp, BE

2024

'Don't think twice, it's all right', Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, Antwerp, BE

2023

'Waiting for Summer', Gallery Sofie Van de Velde (South), Antwerp, BE.

2022

‘New friends, old habits’, solo presentation at The Wunderwall, Antwerp , BE.
Groupshow, ‘Gaverprijs 2022’, CC De Schakel, Waregem, BE.

2021

‘Unmute’, Bib Tweebronnen, groupshow with teachers of SLAC, Leuven, BE.

2019

‘The human condition II’, groupshow with Charif Benhelima, Marjam Najd, Kusseneers Gallery, Brussels, BE.

2018

‘Paradijs’, Bib Tweebronnen, groupshow with teachers of SLAC, Leuven, BE.

2017

‘The self’, Bib Tweebronnen, groupshow with teachers of SLAC, Leuven, BE.

2015

'Provoking the unreal’, SMK31, Antwerp, BE.
'George, Jack and Gerard’, SMK31, Antwerp, BE.

2014

'Magma crowded', Antwerp, BE.
‘Series’, C.A.P.S, (BORGER#4) Antwerp, BE.

2013

MAGMA expo 5, Antwerp, BE.

2012

MAGMA expo 3, Antwerp, BE.
MAGMA expo 2, Antwerp, BE.

2011

MAGMA expo 1, Antwerp, BE.