Abundance III

Stefaan Eyckmans (Stefaan) was born in 1964 in Niel, a former brickyard village near Antwerp, Belgium. As the son of a painter and graphic artist, he was introduced to the tools of painting and drawing from an early age. His father remained a constant teacher and mentor, nurturing his creative path throughout life.

During his formative years, Stefaan was deeply inspired by the Flemish Primitives, the 17th-century still life masters, and the Antwerp hyperrealist movement led by Willem Dolphyn. Later, the impasto technique of Dutch painter Henk Helmantel and the serene austerity of Giorgio Morandi’s compositions left a lasting mark on his artistic vocabulary.

Initially trained as a graphic designer and illustrator, Stefaan worked in advertising for a time before gradually devoting himself entirely to painting. The fast pace and transience of commercial work gave way to the meditative stillness of the studio, where patient observation and the slow build-up of timeless compositions became his true calling.

In an era where contemporary discourse often sidelines classical beauty, Stefaan firmly upholds it as an essential artistic compass. Through a continuous exploration of form, essence, and harmony, he seeks to construct a new, unspoiled reality. His works radiate stillness and equilibrium. As he describes them, they are “emergency exits from our stressed consumer society.” Blending the tonal techniques of the old masters with modern materials, colours, and everyday objects, Stefaan creates a form of contemporary realism that is deeply rooted in centuries of artistic tradition.

While striking in their realism and intricate detail, Stefaan’s still-life paintings are grounded in abstract composition. From afar, they seduce with color, shape, and subtle lighting; up close, they reveal a world of carefully crafted detail.
Today, Stefaan lives a reclusive life in the serene Quercy Blanc region of southern France, in a small hamlet nestled among the vineyards of Cahors. There, in the converted barn of l’Ancien Presbytère de Troniac, he quietly continues his artistic journey.

Selected Exhibitions & Galleries

1997 – Gallery Kunststof, Aarschot (Belgium)
1998–2003 – Kunsthandel Henk Broeke, Den Haag (Netherlands)
1998–2003 – Gouda Art Gallery, Gouda (Netherlands)
2000–2004 – Albemarle Gallery, London (UK)
2000–2008 – Pieter Breughel Gallery, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
2003–2008 – Elliott Yeary Gallery, Aspen CO (USA)
2004–2011 – Burlington Paintings Ltd., Mayfair, London (UK)
2006 – Retrospective, City Museum Aarschot (Belgium)
2012– Galerie DDG, Paris (France)
2022– Sala Parés, Barcelona (Spain)
2024– Galerie Alex F., Hamburg (Germany)
2025 – Valentina Safarian Fine Art, Knokke (Belgium)