Bent Van Looy

Biography

Bent Van Looy
born in 1976, Antwerp (BE)
lives and works in Antwerp (BE)

Bent Van Looy has been fighting it out with two muses for as long as he can remember. As a musician who went to art school (or is it a painter who deeply enjoyed touring), he has been trying to find a way to do both well. Sometimes this means not at all, if only to prevent half-arsed work. After a fifteen-year hiatus, a studio was found and painting has yet again been very much on his mind. For a little over a year, Bent’s been working hard on modestly sized figurative oil paintings of abandoned zoo enclosures, shiny happy clown heads that may actually be cookie jars and more such apparently jolly scenes. Under the surface, however, something strangely uncomfortable lurks.

EDUCATION
University of St. Lucas, Ghent (BE)

www.bentvanlooy.com

Bent Van Looy
born in 1976, Antwerp (BE)
lives and works in Antwerp (BE)

Bent Van Looy has been fighting it out with two muses for as long as he can remember. As a musician who went to art school (or is it a painter who deeply enjoyed touring), he has been trying to find a way to do both well. Sometimes this means not at all, if only to prevent half-arsed work. After a fifteen-year hiatus, a studio was found and painting has yet again been very much on his mind. For a little over a year, Bent’s been working hard on modestly sized figurative oil paintings of abandoned zoo enclosures, shiny happy clown heads that may actually be cookie jars and more such apparently jolly scenes. Under the surface, however, something strangely uncomfortable lurks.

EDUCATION
University of St. Lucas, Ghent (BE)

www.bentvanlooy.com

Selected Exhibitions

2022

'Note To Self', Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, Antwerp, BE

2020

The Vessel, the Jerk and the Edge of Reason, Super Dakota, Brussels, BE
Wunderwall, Gallery Sofie Van de Velde Gallery and PLUS-ONE Gallery, Antwerp, BE
GIFC, Hotel Paris, Berlin, DE

2019

My Biggest Small, Showhouse Jay Jay, Antwerp (BE)
Looking Through Rose Coloured Glasses, Gallery Sofie Van De Velde, PLUS-ONE Gallery, Antwerp (BE)

2008

'It’s Not Only Rock ’n’ Roll, Baby', Bozar, Brussels BE

2003

'Synesthetics', De Garage, Mechelen, BE

1999

'COMING PEOPLE', De Vereniging, S.M.A.K., Ghent, BE
'Art Primeur', CBK, Dordrecht, NL

Artworks

Bent Van Looy
Her sister, 2021
Watercolor on paper
Paper: 40 x 30 cm
Image: 30 x 20 cm