About
Conrad Willems
I am a visual artist making drawings, sculptures and performances.
I was born by the sea, but live and work in Ghent.
Geometry, repetition and modularity are three basic principles in all of my works, resulting in a visual language that is highly recognisable.
The drawings show the repetition of figures, varying in shapes and sizes. They are made with freehand and without a predetermined plan: every drawn line is a permanent one. This method of freehand repetition generates patterns, disturbed by imperfections in the repetition process. Some earlier drawings are reminiscent of cities or minimal urban landscapes. There are however only shapes, no buildings. The form denies any function. In more recent work, the repetition pattern becomes more and more flawed. Ultimately, each shape is a new one. In my latest work I layer several drawings over each other, blurring recognisable shapes, then adding new ones.
The sculptures share the same basic principles. Earlier works explored simple geometric shapes, blurred or emphasised by adding light. Later sculptural works are constructed with freestanding pieces. These modular installations are often constructed live. The building process thus becomes a performance, the resulting construction an installation work. My latest installations are made with natural stone building blocks, referring more and more to sculptures in a more classical sense.
The interpretations of the works are left to the viewer.
Awards & Honors
2017 Winner Prix de Godecharle for Sculpture/ Brussels / Belgium
2015 Selected: Provinciale prijs Beeldende kunst / Oost-Vl / Belgium
2014 Shortlisted: Summer exhibition / Royal Academy / London / UK
2013 Selected: Grote prijs tekenkunst Ronse / Belgium
2013 Shortlisted: Summer exhibition / Royal Academy / London / UK
2013 Shortlisted: Arte Laguna / Venice / Italy
2011 First Prize: Art4students / Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven / Belgium
2011 Selected: Grote prijs tekenkunst Ronse / Belgium
2011 Selected: tekenkunstprijs /Heist op den Berg / Belgium
Press & Publications
2018 Miart, #itenerance04, Wallpaper, expo review
2018 Miart, #itenerance04, Elledecor Italy, expo review
2018 Miart, #itenerance04, Esquire, expo review
2017 Blind Choices, Tumult FM, radio interview
2017 Duivelsteen performance, HLN, newspaper interview
2017 Duivelsteen performance, AVS, TV interview
2016 Opening veeartsenijschool, AVS, TV interview
2014 Tumultingent, Tumult FM, radio interview
2013 There are stories of, catalogue, Conrad Willems, p.72
2013 Weekend Knack, Rorschach expo review
2013 Gentblogt.be, review, Yconography – Conrad Willems
2012 DIY days Ghent, article, Art, play and networking with a view, p29-30
2012 www.fotorama.be, announcement, stARTist Conrad Willems
2012 gentblogt.be, mentioned, Kotroute
2012 Kotroute in full color Catalogus, catalogue, Conrad Willems, p.8
2011 www.khleuven.be, press release, KHLeuven huldigt kunstwerken in
2011 Gazet Van Antwerpen, mentioned, Publieksprijs tekenkunst Heist op Den Berg
Selected exhibitions
2018 SPOREN / Ypres / Belgium
2018 Landschappen in perspectief / DOLERS / Dendermonde / Belgium
2018 Solo exhibition / Atelier Jespers / Brussels / Belgium
2018 Miart, Contemporary Art fair / Atelier Jespers / Milan / Italy
2018 Composition I / Collectible Art Fair / Vanderborght / Brussels / Belgium
2018 Construction IV / BAD Belgium Art and Design / Ghent / Belgium
2018 Construction IV / Truc Troc Art Fair / BOZAR / Brussels / Belgium
2017 Tussen Muren / Academie Tielt / Tielt / Belgium
2017 Performance V, Cubicles / Observatorium / Antwerp / Belgium
2017 Visionary History / Luca Galery - Faculty Of Law / Leuven / Belgium
2017 Prix Godecharle / Académy Royal des Beaux-Arts / Brussels / Belgium
2017 Bakermat / De Boerderij / Drongen / Belgium
2017 Blind Choices / Blanco / Ghent / Belgium
2017 Yart / Gerald The Devil Castle / Ghent / Belgium
2016 Veiling Tuinfeest / Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens / Deurle / Belgium
2016 Plakstad / STAM / Ghent / Belgium
2016 Museumnacht Antwerpen / HeadquARTers / Antwerp / Belgium
2016 Our mathematical world / Sint Lucas galerij / Brussels / Belgium
2015 Constructions / Nylon Fabriek / Sint-Niklaas / Belgium
2015 Apprentice/Master exhibition #20 / De Brakke Grond / The Netherlands
2015 DOK - solo presentation / BLANCO / Ghent / Belgium
2015 Solo exhibition / Homerus / Paris / France
2015 Tumultingent / multiple locations / Ghent / Belgium
2014 Did You Say Abstract? / Oneiro Galerie / Paris / France
2014 Performance IV, Cubicles / STAM / Ghent / Belgium
2014 Ilya Prigogine / public group exhibition / Ghent / Belgium
2014 Summer Camp #1 / Gallery Cecilia Jaime / Ghent / Belgium
2014 Tumultingent / multiple locations / Ghent / Belgium
2013 Grand prize drawing / Ronse / Belgium
2013 Toeval Versus Ratio / Ghent / Belgium
2013 Rorschach / Avenue L Ghent / Belgium
2013 Yconography / Ycono / Ghent / Belgium
2013 Tumultingent / multiple locations / Ghent / Belgium
2012 Kotroute / SMAK / Ghent / Belgium
2012 Performance III, Cubicles / STAM / Ghent / Belgium
2012 Selected drawings / Aersele / Belgium
2012 stART, Fotorama window project / Wevelgem / Belgium
2012 Contemporary Art Sucks / Winkelhaak Antwerp / Belgium
2011 Grand prize drawing / Ronse / Belgium
2011 Drawing exhibition / Heist Op Den Berg / Belgium
2011 A stroke of genius / Autoworld Jubelpark Brussels / Belgium
2009 Urbania I, Cityminds / Brugge/ Belgium
2008 Performance II, Cubicles / Ghent / Belgium
2006 Performance I, Cubicles / Krack Rock Avelgem / Belgium
2006 Out of Control / VUB Brussels / Belgium
2006 FRIS / Gallery Jan Colle / Ghent / Belgium
2006 SpaceControl / Kaiku Galeria / Helsinki / Finland
2005 Het Proces / Crombeen Instituut / Ghent / Belgium
2005 Exposition / Kaiku Galeria / Helsinki / Finland