Medium : oil on wood panel

Born in Montreal in 1971, artist Antoine Claes is of both Canadian and Belgian nationality.

Antoine Claes obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Art Design at Concordia University, Montreal, in 1999. He also studied Industrial Design for a year at the ‘École Supérieure des Arts Visuels de la Cambre’ in Brussels. He has worked as an illustrator, muralist and as an art teacher’s assistant.

Antoine Claes is inspired by technology and architecture. In his work the artist explores such themes as the brightness of light versus the density of darkness. Technically, the artist enjoys working with a spatula, creating build –ups of paint to give a fading and smearing effect. His research is aesthetic and his commitment is based on letting the matter inspire, instead of trying to justify it in another way. Windows of warehouses, factories, and office buildings become the pretext to render the impersonal nature of urban society. The artists explains that light in his work, although synthetic, brings forth an emotional response, is conductive to contemplation and awakens the imagination with an energy similar to the screens that feed our contemporary imagery.

Media Coverage :
Parcours, Summer 2007 edition, article pg.26-27 (French version).

Expositions :
Antoine Claes has participated in several solo and collective expositions and live painting events in Quebec for over fifteen years.

Award :
1998- 1st prize for the AluDesign contest from the ‘Centre Québécois de Recherche et de Développement de l’Aluminium’ .