Roelant André
André Roelant is a Belgian artist who was born in Sint-Niklaas in 1942. He is a painter, draftsman and graphic artist. Education in decorative arts and specialization in monumental art (1965) at Sint-Lucas in Ghent, under the direction of G. De Vuyst, among others. In 1964 he also obtained the certificate of pedagogical competence. Education in drawing, painting and graphics at the Academy in Sint-Niklaas. Won the Proost-De Barsy prize and the Gold State Medal for graphics. Found his inspiration in nature and in the way man uses it. Sometimes painted exclusively in subtle shades of gray. Evolved from a playful realism to a committed expressionism and photographic intimism. From the press: 'Instinctively, A. R. continues the tradition of Flemish fantasy and the Flemish métier. With universal elements. With own finds. With contemporary figures and props. With original collages composed selections of contemporary shock themes. A.R. collects the elements that affect him, that move him emotionally, that please him, that make him averse. And he brings them together in a kind of mosaic.” Laureate of the Provincial Prize of East Flanders for Graphics in 1964, of the Triennial State Prize for Engraving Art in 1969, Prize for Graphics of the city of Sint-Niklaas in 1969, Provincial Prize for Painting in 1974, laureate of the Prize for Drawing of the city of Ronse in 1980. Numerous individual exhibitions from 1965, including in the De Zwarte Panter gallery in Antwerp in 1971, in the Museum in Ghent in 1974, in the Museum in Sint-Niklaas in 1975 and 1983, in the Square Hall of the Academy in Sint-Niklaas in 1993, in the gallery De Smederij in Sappemeer/Netherlands in 1996, in the gallery Jacques Gorus in Antwerp in 1998 and 2000. Selected for numerous national and international exhibitions, in Grenchen/Switzerland (1965), in the Bradford City Art Gallery in Great Britain(1972, 1976 and 1979), in Wroclaw/Poland (1982), in Nürnberg/Germany (1982). Was an art teacher at the Klein Seminarie in Sint-Niklaas (1965-1977), graphics teacher at the RHoK in Etterbeek (1973-1975), from 1968 teacher painting and from 1975 teacher free graphics at the Academy in Sint-Niklaas. Founder and chairman of the De Nieuwe Tijd gallery in Sint-Niklaas. Chairman of the Art Group Signaal in Kruibeke. Work in the collections of the Albert I Library in Brussels, the Belgian State, the province of East Flanders, the cities of Sint-Niklaas and Ronse, the National Bank. Mentioned in BAS II and Two centuries of signatures of Belgian artists. (piron)