Overberghe Cel

Cel Overberghe is a Belgian artist, born in Deurne on May 30, 1937. He is a painter, graphic artist and musician. He received his education at the Academy and at the Higher Institute in Antwerp. He made his debut as a figurative artist and later evolved into lyrical abstraction. In addition to ancient cultural sources such as the cave drawings in Lascaux, he has incorporated the movements of abstraction, pop art and New Realism in his work.
Overberghe is a gifted saxophonist and his love for jazz is noticeable in his work. His paintings are characterized by playful and elegant compositions, often in bright shades of white, black and gray, with a pronounced sense of order and balance. He strives for each work to be better than the previous one, and his creative drive is reflected in both his music and his paintings.
Overberghe received thorough training as a graphic artist. After studying decorative arts, publicity and book illustration at the SISA in Cadixstraat, he perfected his skills at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp under the guidance of René De Coninck and then at the National Higher Institute for Fine Arts, where Jos Hendrickx gave him the necessary imparted professional knowledge. He illustrated dozens of children's books and focused mainly on etchings and monotypes, achieving a degree of craftsmanship that borders on perfection.
Overberghe was one of the youngest members of Group G 58 of the Hessenhuis in Antwerp. His work from the 1950s was described by Marc Callewaert as "playful and elegant". The clear compositions and tight shapes in his work are well balanced, and the artist's love for jazz is reflected in the sparkling rhythm of his works.
He has a rich record of prizes and exhibitions at home and abroad, which testifies to his constant urge to create. We can find his work in the MuHKA in Antwerp. He is mentioned in BAS I and Two centuries of signatures of Belgian artists. (Piron, BT)