Noa Verkeyn (Antwerpen, 1997) Graduated from KASK, Ghent (2021) with a series of poppy flower drawings, a visual ground base of Noa Verkeyn (°1997, Belgium) her practice was established. Apprehending a strong colorful mindset to create a visual utopia. With this project, flowers were captured in their flourishing prime while having dirt shoes on, holding shovels, and showcasing their roots without any shame. By humanizing these flowers, they serve to observe the relationship between the self, another person, and nature. These works are pleasant, funny, and brim at the same time. Flowers holding their shovels so casually like they are about to evict their roots from their nourishing ground. Humanizing nature as a reflection, an allegory on our condition humaine.
This symbolism lays out the ground form of Verkeyns practice. Over the last few years, her new body of works embedded – primarily – new symbols such as hearts, crystal glasses, and thorn stems. Creating a richer visual language to tell the story of how to exist in a world where mysticism has to be created again.
By taking this medium of drawing seriously, Verkeyn enters a so seemingly new tradition within contemporary culture. One that focuses on elevating drawings towards a higher level of autonomy. More artists uplift this – historically – looked upon medium of drawing as a mere means to the final work, a sketch, the outline of an idea, this so-called low medium receives more and more recognition. So does Noa Verkeyn use this medium of drawing to the fullest to depict a new form of visual language.
(Text by Jonathan Meersman)
NOA VERKEYN (1997, Gent)
Education
Bachelor in Drawing at KASK School of Arts Ghent
Master in Fine Arts at KASK School of Arts Ghent
Exhibitions
2024 - ‘Aesthetic Echoes’ Group exhibition at Plus-One Gallery (South), Antwerp, BE
2024 - ‘Castlemania Open the Gates!’ Group exhibition at Galerie Fleur en Wouter in collaboration with co-curator Simon Marsiglia, Amsterdam, NL
2024 - ‘Even a broken clock is right twice a day’ Group exhibition by Peer Vink at Ten Haaf Projects, Amsterdam, NL
2023 - ‘Fantaisie Sign’ Group exhibition curated by Elise Deubel at Paloma, Antwerp, BE
2023 - rundgang.io & 1-06 Group exhibition, Berlin, DE
2023 - ‘Crystal Clear’ Solo exhibition at Tatjana Pieters Gallery, Ghent, BE
2022 - ‘Les Planches Félées Festival’, Briare, FR
2021 ‘Drawing the line’ Duo exhibition at Plagiarama Gallery, Brussels, BE
2021 ‘Below the horizon’, Knokke, BE
2021 Graduation show at KASK School of arts Ghent, BE
Co-founder of Medusa Offspace in Brussels, Belgium
About the Gallery
The aim of Galerie Fleur & Wouter is to bring young people into contact with art, to make them feel at home in the gallery and to motivate them to start collecting. This philosophy of an accessible and inclusive gallery is reflected in all our activities. We try to communicate in an accessible way and tell clear stories.
We present artists with a strong story, who create works of art that have an immediate appeal, but then turn out to have many other layers as well. Our artists work in different art forms and we are always looking for cross-links outside of the visual arts. For example by showing fashion designers like Lieselot Elzinga and Bas Kosters. The gallery gives them the opportunity to move in the direction of fine art. Artists who have been ignored by general art history, such as Outsider artists, are also given a platform in the gallery.
The majority of our artists are young and they will grow with the gallery in the coming years. But we also work together with mid-career artists like Jan Hoek and Mai van Oers. We see the gallery, its artists and supporters as a family that, in addition to making a profit, aims to help grow the artists' careers, and increase the appreciation of art in general.
Gallery owners: Fleur Feringa & Wouter van Herwaarden
Feel free to contact us for any questions.
e-mail: info@galeriefleurenwouter.com
telephone: +31 6 57748299
Van Ostadestraat 43A, Amsterdam
Thursday - Sunday 12.00 - 18.00 hrs