Nico Vaerewijck lives and works in Eksaarde, Belgium. In a relatively short period, he has developed a distinct abstract-figurative style, drawing on real-life subjects with a sense of immediacy. Like many contemporary painters, his work is informed by vintage photographs, film stills, and documentaries. His Neo-Fauvist expressions reflect both exuberant enthusiasm and deep reverence for the art of painting. The combination of bold, vibrant colors, visible drips, and a seemingly effortless brush technique distinguishes him as one of the most instinctual painters of his generation.
Although his paintings initially appear to capture an overt reality, the images are meticulously altered to leave viewers in a state of ambiguity. What might seem recognizable at first becomes elusive, a blurred representation that defies direct correspondence, infusing the work with a sense of mystery. Nico Vaerewijck studied painting at the Academy of Sint-Niklaas. He received the Legaat Hulstaert award in 2012 and was nominated for the Belfius Art Prize in 2013.
“My work captures the fleeting, often overlooked moments that shape our perception of the world. Grounded in personal experience, my paintings explore the intersection of everyday banality with deeper societal concerns. At the heart of my art lies a tension between freedom and control, individuality and conformity, often viewed through the lens of modern surveillance and the curated realities of social media. Through vibrant colors, abstract forms, and a cinematic approach, I aim to create pieces that resonate on both personal and universal levels.
A pivotal moment in my artistic journey was a five-month road trip across the United States in 2022. Marked by unexpected detours and encounters with desolate landscapes, this experience profoundly shaped my creative process. It shifted my focus from external imagery to a more introspective narrative, where fragments of memory and personal experience became central. Photographs from the trip now serve as the foundation for my recent works, transformed into painterly expressions that evoke themes of memory, nostalgia, and the search for a sense of home.
My process is intuitive, a delicate balance between abstraction and figuration. Each brushstroke is a conversation between spontaneity and control, stripping away the artifice of daily life to expose its raw emotional core. By isolating mundane elements—a family snapshot, a barren landscape—and reducing them to their essential forms, I aim to reveal unseen layers of our shared reality.
Through my paintings, I invite the viewer to question their own relationship with the world around them. What is real, and what is constructed? Viewing becomes an active dialogue where recognition and mystery coexist, and interpretation remains fluid. The unresolved narratives create space for personal engagement, allowing each viewer to find their own meaning within the work.
Using wet-on-wet techniques, my paintings radiate energy and immediacy, capturing the emotional intensity of the moment. Whether portraying fragmented domestic scenes or cinematic landscapes, I seek to pull viewers beyond the surface, urging them to confront deeper truths hidden within. This ongoing journey—both artistic and existential—is not just about charting the physical world but exploring the complexities of human existence itself.”
Prices & Awards
2008 Nominated International Art Price Hoppeland
2012 Laureate Legaat Hulstaert
2013 Nominated Belfius Art 2013
Experience
1999-2015 SASK Sint Niklaas
NICO VAEREWIJCK 