GIDEON KIEFER
BIO | SELECTED WORKS
Gideon Kiefer was described for years as a virtuoso draftsman, but in 2019, he transformed from a full-fledged draftsman into an emerging painter.
Kiefer’s work explores the unreliability of memory. His fascination with how memories are distorted, embellished, or even completely fabricated results in intimate and peculiar drawings and paintings that merge reality with imagination. Throughout his entire oeuvre, he draws inspiration from his hometown, the houses of his grandparents, his grandfather’s art books, places, and friends who have held special meaning for him.
On a secondary level, Kiefer’s work is often interpreted as socio-critical. Over the years, his work has increasingly taken on an apocalyptic tone, closely linked to the growing climate crisis. Draped sheets, inspired by the immense covers used to protect melting glaciers; the landscapes and forests of his hometown, enclosed in architectural settings; and stuffed giant birds that seem to herald impending doom—these are just a few of the many metaphors that represent this theme, giving his entire oeuvre an uncanny atmosphere.
Kiefer employs traditional (oil painting) techniques, only to then break academic conventions with the intent of “painting academicism to pieces.” His technical experimentation with painting is an ongoing evolution, which he delves deeper into by using stylistic contrasts within a single work or by mixing different media, such as spray paint, markers, stencils, and collage.
Handwritten texts, revealing hidden messages—often focused on current themes like climate change, but also including personal notes or GPS coordinates—add to the layering that is essential for the artist. Kiefer balances between the intimate and the global, and between reality and fiction, creating his own microcosm. His work invites reflection on the fragility of our memories and the urgency of the world around us, with each piece organically contributing to a narrative that is both personal and universal.
Recently, Kiefer has also added sculptures and objects to his repertoire.
His work is represented and exhibited both nationally and internationally.
©Johan Jacobs
CV
Gideon Kiefer
°1970
Works and lives in Ghent (BE)
Selected exhibitions
2024
RESISTANCE IS FUTILE / solo exhibition / MAD Gallery / Poznań (Pl)
LA PASSION DU SESSIN / group exhibition / Musée de l’Hospice Saint-Roch / Issoudun, (FR)
WORKS ON PAPER / group exhibition / Barbé Gallery / Ghent (BE)
GIDEON INVITES / group exhibition / Cube Gallery / Genk (BE)
CHESTNUT GRENADES & SHOOTING STICKS / group exhibition / Barbé Gallery / Gent (BE)
WAARHEID / group exhibition / Gents Universiteitsmuseum / Gent (BE)
2023
I’M LOST IN A FOREST / solo exhibition / De Paardenstallen / Be-Part / Kortrijk (BE)
over_BLIJVEN / group exhibition / De Markthallen / Herk-De-Stad (BE)
ZANDGOND / group exhibition / De Warande / Turnhout (BE)
ROAD TO NOWHERE / Kunstbiënnale Prinsenhof Gent / Gent (BE)
ART ANTWERP / group exhibition / Kudlek Gallery / Antwerp (BE)
2022
GIDEON KIEFER / solo exhibition / De Halle / Geel (BE)
Eden Kunstenfestival / group exhibition / Roeselare (BE)
HERINNERINGEN EN SEQUENTIES / group exhibition / Cultuurhuis De Bijl / Zoersel (BE)
UITGESTALD -1 / group exhibition / Uitstalling Art Gallery / Genk (BE)
KUNST-LICHT / group exhibition / Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens / Sint-Martens-Latem (BE)
FINIS TERRAE / group exhibition / Conscience Bibliotheek / Antwerpen (BE)
2021
ART ANTWERP / solo exhibition / Geukens & De Vil booth / Antwerp (BE)
THAT’S ALL FOLKS / group exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Gallery / Knokke (BE)
POES. HOE DE KAT DE MENS VANGT / Yper Museum / Ieper (BE)
2020
THE ROOM IS LIT BY ELECTRIC LIGHT / solo exhibition / Museum Gevaert-Minne / Sint-martens-Latem (BE)
ART ANTWERP / solo exhibition / Geukens & De Vil booth / Antwerp (BE)
ICTAF / group exhibition / Geukens & De Vil booth / Cape Town (SA)
BEESTIG / group exhibition / Stadsfestival Damme / Damme (BE)
2019
WORK / solo exhibition / De Markthallen / Herk-de-Stad (BE)
A THROWBACK TO ANCIENT TIMES, IT’S NO COINCIDENCE / solo exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Gallery / Knokke (BE)
DOUVEN VS KIEFER – ZO VER HET OOG ZIEN KAN / group exhibition / Pelt (BE)
TEKENING (Disegno) / group exhibition / SASK / Sint-Niklaas (BE)
2018
SEQUENCE / solo exhibition / UNC Gallery / Seoul (Kor)
FIDDLING WHILE ROME BURNS / solo exhibition / Galerie Martin Kudlek / Cologne (Ger)
Kunstenfestival Watou / Watou (BE)
2017
DE OPWARMING / group exhibition / Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp / Antwerp (BE)
ECCE HOMO / group exhibition / Maagdenhuis / Antwerp (BE)
Vienna Contemporary / group exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Booth / Vienna, (AUS)
BLACK / group exhibition / C-Mine / Genk (BE)
VOLTA 13 / group exhibition / Galerie Martin Kudlek / Basel (CH)
MUSEUM TO SCALE 1/7 / group exhibition / Fondazione Ghisla Art Collection / Locarno (I)
Drawing Now Paris 11 / group exhibition / Galerie Martin Kudlek / Le Carreau du Temple / Paris (FR)
Sylvie De Meerleer, Gideon Kiefer & Birde Vanheerswinghels / Galerie Martin Kudlek / Cologne (GER)
THE BEAUTY OF THE BEAST / group exhibition / Kasteel d'Ursel / Bornem (BE)
2016
ART ON PAPER / solo exhibition / BOZAR / Brussels (BE)
X MARKS THE SPOT511244824242421 / solo exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Gallery / Antwerp (BE)
Grote Prijs Ernest Albert / group exhibition / De Garage / Mechelen (BE)
DRAWING FRONT / group exhibition / Kunstvereniging & Drawing Centre Diepenheim / Diepenheim (Nl)
10 jaar Kunstenaar van de Maand / group exhibition / Zebrastraat, Gent (BE)
TUMULTINGENT / group exhibition / Watt Event Space / Gent (BE)
2015
DRAWING NOW / solo exhibition / Carreau Du temple / Paris (FR)
GIDEON KIEFER / solo exhibition / C-Mine Cultuur Centrum / Genk (BE)
GIDEON KIEFER / solo exhibition / UNC Gallery / Seoul (Kor)
ART TORONTO / group exhibition / Rosenfeld-Porcini Gallery booth / Toronto (CAN)
GOODBYE POURBUS, HELLO LEOPOLD / group exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Gallery / Antwerp (BE)
AANDACHT! AANDACHT! / group exhibition / C-Mine / Genk (BE)
VIENNA CONTEMPORARY / group exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Booth / Vienna, (AUS)
AANDACHT! AANDACHT! / group exhibition / De Warande / Turnhout (BE)
Kunstenfestival Watou / Watou (BE)
2014
Book presentation / Bozar / Brussels (BE)
Presentation DER DARSTELLER / Artist in Residence / Be-Part / Waregem (BE)
Provinciale Prijs Beeldende Kunst Oost- Vlaanderen 2013 / group exhibition / Caermersklooster / Gent (BE)
Vienna Contemporary / group exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Booth / Vienna (AUS)
DRAWING NOW PARIS / Focus Artist / Carreau Du Temple / Paris (FR)
SOMETHING OF VALUE / group exhibition / Lokettenzaal Bank van België en Belgische Senaat / Brussel (BE)
2013
THE END OF DREAMS (drawings) / solo exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Gallery / Knokke (BE)
THE ENQUIRECTANGULAR PROJECT SITE 002 / Geukens & De Vil Gallery / Antwerp (BE)
GIDEON KIEFER - TEKENINGEN, WETENSCHAP VERBERGT WAANZIN / solo exhibition / Museum Dr. Guislain / Gent (BE)
MUSEUM TO SCALE 1/7 / group exhibition / Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten, Brussels (BE)
ART BRUSSELS / group exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Gallery booth / Brussels (BE)
ART 13 LONDON / group exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Gallery booth / London (UK)
KATHO DEPARTMENT IPSOC KORTRIJK i.s.m. Museum Dr. Guislain / group exhibition / Gent (BE)
MUSEUM OP SCHAAL 1/7 / group exhibition / Ronny Van De Velde Gallery (BE)
THE BIRTH OF CINEMA & BEYOND / group exhibition / Rosenfeld-Porcini Gallery / London (UK)
2012
ARE THE LIMITS OF MY LANGUAGE, THE LIMITS OF MY WORLD? / group exhibition / Maskara Gallery / December / Mumbai (IN)
WENN DER LÖWE SPRECHEN KÖNNTE, WIR WERDEN IHN NICHT VERSTEHEN / group exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Gallery / Knokke (BE)
WISH YOU WERE HERE / group exhibition / Ana Cristea Gallery / New York (USA)
ART BRUSSELS / group exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Gallery booth, Brussels (BE)
2011
THE WORLD ABOVE THE GROUND IS UNSTALE / solo exhibition / Geukens & De Vil Gallery Antwerp (BE)
FLANDERS HOUSE / group show / New York (USA)
A PAPER TRAIL / De Halle – De Warande / Geel (BE)
ART BRUSSELS / group show / Geukens & De Vil Gallery booth / Brussels (BE)
SALON / group exhibition / Pianomuseum Maene / Ruiselede (BE)
THE WEIGHTY BODY / Museum Dr. Guislain / Ghent (BE)
(WHEN WILL THEY FINALLY SEE) THE POWER OF DRAWING / Geukens & De Vil Gallery / Antwerp (BE)
2010
PREVIEW BERLIN / group show / Geukens & de Vil Gallery Booth / Berlin (GER)
GIDEON KIEFER & BART SLANGEN / group exhibition / Cultuurcentrum Dommelhof / Neerpelt (BE)
CANVASCOLLECTIE 2010 / group exhibition / BOZAR Museum / Brussels (BE)
VAULTS AND THE SYNESTHESIA OF DYAS AND NUMBERS / solo exhibition / Gallery Geukens & De Vil / Knokke (BE)
DIONISS FESTIVAL / solo exhibition / St.-Denijs-Westrem (BE)
BLUEPRINT OF A 3 DAY NIGHTMARE - THE PLAN/ solo exhibition / Gallery S&H De Buck / Ghent (BE)
2009
VVB 82 GALLERY / solo exhibition / Antwerp (BE)
SETTEMBRINI BOOKSHOP / solo exhibition / Leiden (NL)
UNDERCOVER BOOKSTORE / solo exhibition / Ghent (BE)
B&C GROUP ART GALLERY / group exhibition / Mont-Saint-Guibert (BE)
2008
MODERNISM / group exhibition / De Markgraaf / Hove (BE)