Michiel Ceulers

Michiel Ceulers (born 1986, Waregem) is a Belgian artist best known for his radical approach to painting. He studied at KASK in Ghent and later completed a residency at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam. Today, he lives and works alternately in Ghent and Berlin.

His practice balances on the border between abstraction and figuration, subjecting paintings to an intense process of experimentation and manipulation. Michiel uses not only traditional paint, but also materials such as cardboard, wood, glitter or found objects. He often treats his canvases roughly: he sands, tears, pricks or stacks them against each other while the paint is still wet.

The result is layered, fragile surfaces that bear traces of time, chance and manipulation. He constantly explores the expectations and traditions surrounding painting, searching for authenticity and directness in imperfection.