Koen Lybaert

Koen Lybaert is a multifaceted artist whose work spans abstract painting, ceramics, and landscapes, each medium reflecting his deep engagement with texture, color, and emotional resonance. His abstract paintings, celebrated for their intricate layering and interplay of hues, explore the boundaries between form and formlessness. Using techniques that build texture through multiple layers of oil or acrylic, Lybaert creates immersive works that evoke both movement and stillness. The result is a meditative quality that invites prolonged contemplation, with subtle tonal shifts that mimic natural processes like erosion or sedimentation.

In ceramics, Lybaert extends his mastery of texture and form into three-dimensional space. His vessels and sculptures often carry the imprint of traditional firing techniques such as raku, Obvara, and smoke-firing, which lend his pieces a raw, organic quality. The juxtaposition of smooth glazes, crackled surfaces, and natural imperfections transforms each piece into a tactile exploration of fragility and resilience. Works like his broken/connected vessels, accented with gold leaf or rich glazes, embody themes of imperfection and renewal, resonating with collectors who appreciate both the craftsmanship an...

Koen Lybaert is a self-taught painter with a strong foundation in abstract and contemporary art, refining his craft over decades of independent exploration and experimentation. In 2021, he expanded his artistic practice by enrolling in the Art Academy in Geel, Belgium, where he pursued formal studies in ceramics. This marked a significant evolution in his career, allowing him to combine his painterly sensibilities with three-dimensional forms.

At the academy, Lybaert delved into the technical and conceptual aspects of ceramics, mastering firing techniques such as raku, Obvara, and smoke-firing, while exploring the interplay of texture, color, and form. His background as a painter enriches his ceramic work, evident in his use of bold glazes, nuanced color transitions, and an eye for composition. The academy provided him with the tools and expertise to translate his abstract vision into tangible, sculptural works, solidifying his reputation as a multidisciplinary artist.

Currently
2024
HOREMANS Design, Larum, Belgium. November

2023
D'MAKK+ Herselt, Belgium. December 8th- March 1th 2024 with Astrid De Deyne.
D'MAKK+ Herselt, Belgium. Sept 15th - December 1th with H&L ceramics.
D'MAKK+ Herselt, Belgium. April 14th - June 8th
D"MAKK+ Herselt, Belgium. June 9th - Sept 14th with Peter Hoedemakers.
2022
Horemans Interior - Larum/Geel, Belgium - Nov-Dec 2022.
Zomer van Wechel - Wechelderzande, Belgium. Hof D'Intere - August 2022.
2020
- The Lockdown Exhibition, black and white oil paintings.
Esther Santoyo Gallery | Belgium
15 August - 30 September 2020
- Journey Into Colour.
Arundel Contemporary / Arundel / UK
1 July 2020 - 8 August 2020
- Syneton vs. Art - 29 May 2019 - 28 September 2020 - Syneton / Bornem / Belgium.
2019
- Syneton vs. Art - 29 September 2017 - 28 May 2019 - Syneton / Bornem / Belgium
- Abstract Nature.
Arundel Contemporary / Arundel / UK
2017
- Syneton Building / Bornem / Belgium
- Works on Paper II / Arundel Contemporary / Arundel / UK
2016
- Annual Holiday Sale / Saatchi Art Gallery / Santa Monica / USA
- Cross Currents / Saatchi Art Gallery / Santa Monica / USA
- Saatchi Art Office / Santa Monica / USA
- Art Southampton, New York / USA presented by Saatchi Art
- AAF New Yor...