Stéphane Olivier
(1964, Tournai, Belgium)
After completing his Art studies at Saint-Luc (Brussels), Stéphane studied Graphic Communication at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels de La Cambre (Brussels). After graduating, he worked as an independent graphic designer for the next two decades, a period during which his powerful use of colour already stood out. During this time, he continued to paint and draw, an activity which, throughout his career, will remain his “breath of fresh air” and provide him with a sense of purpose.
In 1998, he decides to move to Spain, settling and working in Madrid. There, he creates a series of paintings, shaped by different influences. Enthralled by the beauty of the Madrid light, he develops an intuitive and dynamic technique, giving his work a sketch-like appearance at the time. However, contrary to their appearance as colorful sketches, each painting, upon analysis, reveals a painstaking process, inspired by his frequent visits to Madrid's many rich museums and by an almost obsessive observation of each instant of light and space. He rapidly falls under the spell of the twilight hues, seen in the city's parks and green spaces.
Simultaneously, he discovers in this ever evolving city, an abandoned universe of industrial wasteland, urban blight, and fragmented neighborhoods, later to become the subject of many of his paintings.
→ Paintings: Landscapes 2008-2014
→ Paintings: Factories 2009-2012
In 2013, back in Belgium after eight fulfilling years in Spain, he chooses to dedicate himself exclusively to painting, marking the beginning of his artistic “journey”. Since then, his work has gained a loyal following and his paintings have been exhibited on numerous occasions.
A unique artistic universe
What distinguishes Stéphane Olivier's work, aside from his ability to navigate between abstraction and figuration, is the exploration of a varied range of themes and subjects, without any intention of descriptive rendering. Stéphane Olivier is a versatile artist, proficient in various painting techniques. His different sized canvases often depict anonymous landscapes, seemingly devoid of human presence. They are often inspired by personal iconographic documents or found on the internet. From intimate small-scale paintings to large canvases, where the brush and sponge interact, they captivate with their rich chromatic universe, luminosity, and contrasting character.
→ Paintings: Landscapes 2008-2014
His work, initially figurative and gradually more abstract, draws inspiration from different places, images, and light, as well as from the influence of various painters (Marquet, Kirkeby, Bonnard, Diebenkorn, Rik Wouters, etc.).
What makes his work unique, is perhaps his fierce determination not to settle into any style and to consider each painting as a step in a journey, where wonder seems to be the main driving force behind his art: “If a painting, once completed, does not carry within it a dose of surprise, mystery, and emotion, why bother”.
In addition to his paintings, he also develops significant drawing work, where black becomes the protagonist of a scenography, where mineral, vegetable, and animal elements interchange in intimate or theatrical spaces.
→ Drawings
His artistic approach is based on the idea that painting is self-sufficient. He seeks to communicate with the viewer beyond words, capturing moments of life and emotion through instinctive and offbeat pictorial writing. Each canvas is a visual and emotional experience, inviting visitors to enter and to get lost in its garden.
Exhibitions and Participations
Winner of the Artistic Prize of the City of Tournai: 2020-2024
First prize of the 31st Artistic Competition of the City of Antoing: 2019
Bruno et Laurence Wouters, Tournai: 2018, 2020, 2023
Galerie 360°, Braine-l'Alleud: 2018
Maison des Arts d'Uccle: 2016-2023
Galerie Artitude, Brussels: 2015-2017
Unesco ArtCamp Andorra: 2012
Ferme Holleken, Linkebeek : 2008
AP Frame (Brussels): 2007, 2008, 2009
Art Truc Troc & Design, Brussels: 2007
Galería Iris, Madrid: 2005, 2006
Galería Toison (collective exhibition), Madrid: 2001, 2002, 2005
Cerix: 1993, 1994, 1996
Générale de Banque Nations: 1991
Follow Stéphane Olivier
We invite you to follow his work on social media for Stéphane's latest paintings, upcoming exhibitions, and art critiques:
→ Facebook: facebook.com/stephaneolivierpeintre
→ Instagram: instagram.com/stefffolivier