Michaël Borremans

Michaël Borremans (born 1963) is a Belgian painter and filmmaker whose enigmatic, atmospheric works have established him as a leading figure in contemporary figurative art. Born in Geraardsbergen, Belgium, he trained in photography and graphic arts at the Luca School of Arts in Ghent, completing his formal training in 1996. Initially a teacher at the Stedelijk Secundair Kunstinstituut in Ghent, Borremans transitioned to painting in the late 1990s, marking the beginning of his distinctive artistic trajectory.

Borremans is renowned for his oil paintings, which combine technical mastery with ambiguous, often unsettling subject matter. Drawing inspiration from 18th-century art and painters such as Édouard Manet and Diego Velázquez, his compositions frequently feature figures in staged, theatrical settings, often dressed in homemade costumes that suggest ritual or performance. His work explores themes of power, vulnerability and the human condition, inviting viewers to engage with the psychological depth of his subjects. Notable series such as Fire from the Sun (2017), depicting children in surreal and unsettling scenarios, exemplify his ability to evoke both beauty and discomfort.
Borremans’ paintings have been exhibited internationally, including solo shows at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, and are held in major public and private collections. He continues to live and work in Ghent, where he also pursues filmmaking and other artistic projects.

MICHAËL BORREMANS (B. 1963)

The Icon

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

Hornet

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

The Villain

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

Interface

MICHAËL BORREMANS (b. 1963)

Portrait

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

Pony (II)

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

The Banana

Michael Borremans (b. 1963)

The Egg

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

The Driver

MICHAËL BORREMANS (B. 1963)

The Stars

Michaël Borremans (B. 1963)

Remote Heads

MICHAËL BORREMANS (B. 1963)

Shitbeard

MICHAËL BORREMANS (B. 1963)

Black Mould (Juggling with Fiery Limbs II)

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

Patterns

MICHAËL BORREMANS (B. 1963)

Sleeves

Michaël Borremans (B. 1963)

Remote Heads

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

The Hearsay

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

The Tympanon Player (1)

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

The Greatness of Our Loss (II)

Michael Borremans (b. 1963)

Trickland (Part Two)

Michael Borremans (b. 1963)

The Proud Craftsmen

MICHAËL BORREMANS (B. 1963)

The Well 2

MICHAËL BORREMANS (B. 1963)

Equilibre

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

Het Lichtgevende Hoofd (The Luminous Head)

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

The Greek Singer

Michaël Borremans (né en 1963)

The Proud Craftmen

Michaël Borremans (B. 1963)

De Mystieke Congregatie der Edelmoedigen (The Mystique Congregation of the Noblemen)

Michaël Borremans (b. 1963)

Girl Eating

MICHAËL BORREMANS (B. 1963)

The Feeding