Biography
Alex De Bruycker is a Belgian contemporary artist whose work explores the relationship between light, colour, space and transparency. Working on fine polyester mesh rather than traditional canvas, he creates translucent layers of acrylic that form shifting chromatic fields.
The mesh allows light to pass through the painted surface, creating a constant interplay between colour, opacity and space. Depending on the viewer’s position and the changing light, forms appear, dissolve and shift, making perception an integral part of the work.
De Bruycker developed this approach after initially working with acrylic paint on his own photographs. What began as an exploration of translucent layers gradually evolved into a distinctive visual language in which colour and space continuously interact. His practice engages with questions central to geometric abstraction, Colour Field painting and minimalism, while developing a singular approach through the material properties of the mesh.
Across his four series — Umbral, Enigma, Cento Moduli and Transendencia — De Bruycker explores different relationships between colour, structure, transparency and perception.
In Cento Moduli, geometric forms and colour fields establish a clear compositional order. In Enigma, isolated forms appear to hover within an ambiguous spatial field, creating a tension between presence and absence. Umbral explores transitions between states, where forms emerge, dissolve or remain suspended between visibility and disappearance. In Transendencia, structure becomes increasingly elusive as colour extends beyond defined boundaries, dissolving into light and space.
Together, the series reveal a practice that moves between geometric structure and perceptual experience. The emphasis shifts from painting as composition towards painting as perception, without abandoning the underlying structure. Rather than closing forms with sharp outlines, De Bruycker allows edges to dissolve, creating works in which colour moves between presence and disappearance.
His work can be situated in dialogue with artists such as Mark Rothko, Imi Knoebel, Helen Frankenthaler and Morris Louis, whose practices have explored different relationships between colour, structure, material and spatial perception. While these references provide an art-historical context, De Bruycker’s use of light-transmitting polyester mesh gives his work a distinct material and perceptual dimension.
His artistic practice was presented in the solo exhibition Transparency in Motion at Amélie du Chalard in New York in 2025. His work centres on the evolving relationship between colour, transparency and perception, inviting the viewer to experience painting not as a fixed image, but as a changing encounter between surface, light and space.
Born in 1968 in Ghent, Belgium, De Bruycker lives and works in Maarkedal, Belgium. He is represented by Amélie du Chalard in Paris and New York.
Education
1986-1990 Master in textiles
Solo exhibitions
2025 Transparency in motion, @ Amelie du Chalard gallery, NYC (USA), 30/10/25 till 15/11/25
2021 In between the void, @ AM Designs, Antwerp(B) 26/08/21 till 02/10/21
2021 Innerspace, @ StudiCorkinho in collaboration with AM Designs, Antwerp(B) 12/05/21 till 30/06/21
2020 studio AM Designs, Antwerp(B) 27/05/2020 till 12/09/2020
2018 Metamorphose, solo show paintings @ Backtodesign, Knokke (B) 31/03/2018 till 20/07/2018
2017 Märchenwald @ CC Elckerlyc, Antwerp (B) 06/02/17
2014 Architectuur anders belicht’ – ‘Architecture enlightened’ @ Galerie S&H De Buck, Gent (B), 01/10/2014 till 05/11/2014
Selected group exhibitions
2025 The Hamptons - Collaboration with @ Amelie du Chalard & The 1818 Collective , Hamptons (USA) 23/05/25
2024 'Nono goes Delft' @ NONO Gallery, Delft(NL) 06/10/24 till 03/11/24
2024 'Celebrate summer' @ NONO Gallery, The Hague(NL) 07/07/24 till 28/07/24
2024 'Monochrome' @ NONO Gallery, The Hague(NL) 03/03/24 till 24/03/24
2023 'Vincent Van Gogh in de Vlaamse Ardennen' @ Verduyn Gallery, Moregem(B) 09/07/23 till 13/08/23
2023 'Présence Palpable' @ Amelie, Maison d'art', Paris(F) 25/05/23 till 09/06/23
2023 'White' @ NONO Gallery, The Hague(NL), 03/02/23 till 26/02/23
2023 DW15 Group show @ Dewael15 Gallery, Antwerp(B) 07/01/23 till 22/01/23
2022 'Under construction', duo show with Floris Hovers @ NONO Gallery, The Hague(NL) 02/10/22 till 30/10/22
2022 Opening @ NONO Gallery, The Hague(NL) 04/09/22 till 25/09/22
2022 'Magellan' a project initiated by Barbé&Urbain and Atelier Ecru Gallery @ Magellan, Knokke(B) 02/07/22 till 28/08/22
2022 'Moving Traces 06' @ AtelierEcruGallery, Gent(B) 22/04/22 till 12/06/2022
2021 PASS 2021, Second edition of a scenic art route around the villages of Mullem-Huise-Wannegem-Lede (B),
curated by Kris Martin & Jan Hoet Junior. 15/08/2021 till 03/10/2021
2020 Art Matters 2 @ Galerie Biesenbach, Cologne(D) 29/11/20 till 13/12/2020
2020 Art Matter @ Galerie Biesenbach, Cologne(D) 12/04/2020 till 26/04/2020
2020 Geen titel/No title @ Ruimte P60, Assen(NL) 01/03/2020 till 23/03/2020
2019 Relikwie, duo show with Peggy Wauters @ Galerie Van Caelenberg, Aalst(B) 10/01/2019 till 16/03/2019
2018 Intimacy @ S&H De Buck, Gent(B) 07/12/2018 till 30/12/2018
2016 Sentimos - Portretten en landschappen @ Galerie S&H De Buck, Gent (B) 02/09/16 till 09/10/2016
2016 Exposition @ Nape Arsenale in Venice 19/03 till 02/04
2015 Stories of Identity @ Galerie S&H De Buck, Gent (B) 12/06/2015 till 30/08/2015
2015 Beyond architecture’ with Wim Carrein paintings @ De Directeurswoning, Roeselare (B), 06/06 till 28/06
2015 Momentum’ with Virginie Besengez Ceramist @ Galerie S&H De Buck, Gent (B), 15/05 till 21/06
Fairs
2024 KunstRAI ArtAmsterdam, Gallery NONO, 27/03/2024 till 01/04/2024
2023 Art The Hague, Gallery NONO, 04/10/2022 till 08/10/2022
2023 KunstRAI ArtAmsterdam, Gallery NONO, 03/05/2023 till 07/05/2023
2022 Art The Hague, Gallery NONO, 05/10/2022 till 09/10/2022
2022 KunstRAI ArtAmsterdam, Gallery NONO, 13/04/2022 till 18/04/2022
2019 BAD, Gent(B) 10/10/2019 till 13/10/2019
Editorial
THE ART COUCH
'Transparante blik of nieuwe ruimtelijkheid'
Release date : 11/08/2019
THE ART COUCH
'Intimiteit voor even ontsluierd'
Release date : 23/12/2018
OFTHELANDANDUS
Interview about the series 'The geese are gone'
Release date : May 2017
NEWDAWNPAPER
Portfolio review 'The geese are gone'
Release date : March 2017
SABATO MAGAZINE
Onthuld : de Belg achter design- en kunstcollectie die in Parijs onder de hamer gaat.
ISSUE 11.02.2017
STUDIO MAGAZINE
BEYOND ARCHITECTURE
ISSUE 09
Release date : January 2016
ISSN 2240-4767