Willem Boel
BIO | SELECTED WORKS
Willem Boel (Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, 1983) bases his practice on the use of industrial structures and objects, stripped of their original function and reconstructed with artistic intent and a rigorous sense of composition. The historical and conceptual weight of these elements, serving as both support and artwork, along with the frequent buildup of paint, creates a density of information and materiality that contrasts in balance with the empty spaces and visual lightness of his pieces. These elements raise questions around disciplinary boundaries and traditional formats. The importance of process as a key component of his work lends significant value to time and duration.
Willem Boel works mainly in series, with notable bodies of work including Le chef d’oeuvre inconnu, De Nieuwe Molens, Pare Feu, and Sancho Don’t Care. In 2015, he was awarded the prestigious Grand Prize at the Salon de Montrouge.
In 2023 he had his first solo at BARBÉ 'Soon You,ll Be Eaten' and in 2025 BARBÉ showed his monumental sculpture Sancho Don't Care #05, at the Brussels Expo site during Art Brussels. He has exhibited at institutions such as Palais de Tokyo, Paris; Museum M in Leuven, Belgium; and Loods 12 in Wetteren, Belgium. His monumental installation Sancho Don’t Care #05—an 11-meter-high sculpture is currently touring across Europe, having been shown in Latvia, Denmark, France, and Belgium. In 2021, Boel participated in the Bruges Triennial (Belgium); Artissima (Turin, Italy); Art Rotterdam (Netherlands); Art Brussels (Belgium) and Kunstverein, Peschkenhaus Moers (Germany). His work is collected by the National Bank of Belgium and Museum M (Leuven, Belgium). In September 2025 his solo'Memo' opened at Hilario Galguera Gallery in Mexico City (MX).
Exhibition view from ‘Soon You’ll Be Eaten’ (2023) by Willem Boel.
Installation view ‘Sancho Don’t Care #05’ (2023), by Willem Boel.
CV
Willem Boel °1983 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium.
Lives and works in Ghent.
Selected exhibitions
2025
OUR DARKNESS | group exhibition | Kunstbiënnale Prinsenhof | Ghent, BE
MEMO | solo exhibition | Galeria Hilario Galguera | Mexico City, MX
BIËNNALE AALTER | group exhibition | Kasteel van Poeke | Ghent, BE
INDEX 6: INTUS FLORIS | group exhibition | Galeria Hilario Galguera | Mexico City, MX
WORKS ON PAPER | group exhibition | BARBÉ | Ghent, BE
SCULPTURAL II | group exhibition | NQ Gallery | Antwerp, BE - K.E.R.K., Middelkerke, BE
DE RAMPE | group exhibition | Kwaremont, BE
ART BRUSSELS | group exhibition with BARBÉ | Brussels Expo | Brussels, BE
NAFT | group exhibition | SteM | Sint-Niklaas, BE
2024
PERLADO | group exhibition | BARBÉ | Ghent, BE
GET RID OF THE BODY | group exhibition | Ruimte P60 | Assen, NL
MOTION MATTERS | group exhibition | Blikfabriek | Antwerpen, BE
ART ANTWERP | group presentation with Joost Pauwaert and Gideon Kiefer | BARBÉ | Antwerp, BE
DE RAMPE | group exhibition | Kwaremont, BE
WORKS ON PAPER | BARBÉ Gallery | Ghent, BE
AESTHETIC ECHOES | group exhibition | Plus-One gallery | Antwerp, BE
GHOST4 BUTOH FESTIVAL | Weltkunstzimmer | Düsseldorf, DE
OOIDONK ART FESTIVAL | Kasteel van Ooidonk | Ooidonk, BE
SHELTER FROM THE STORM | CAS | Ostend, BE
BALLROOM PROJECT #06 | group exhibition || Borgerhub | Antwerp, BE
2023
SPAREN: THE NATURE OF THE GAME | Wiels | Brussel, BE
SOON, YOU’LL BE EATEN | solo exhibition | BARBÉ | Ghent, BE
STORIES UNFOLD: NEIGHBOURS | Rubenskasteel | Zemst, BE
SANCHO DON’T CARE | installation | Renewi | Desteldonk, BE
RAVEL RAVEL | Ontsteking | Ghent, BE
PRETTY STANDARD | Wilford X | Temse, BE
CALYPSO | Migratiemuseum | Molenbeek, BE
IVY, VAN GOGH IN DE VLAAMSE ARDENNEN | Zwalm, BE
IN MEDIAS RES | group exhibition | BARBÉ | Ghent, BE
I TRY TO IMAGINE HOW YOUR TEXTURE FELT LIKE | group exhibition | Sint-Pieterskerk | Ypres, BE
GIVE ME AN ANSWER | group exhibition | Matthys-Colle collection Studio Marie Cloquet | Ghent, BE
GIST | Sluis van Ruisbroek | Ruisbroek, BE
ELDORADO | De Goudblomme | Dudzele, BE
BECAUSE EVERY HOUSE TELLS A STORY | Duffel, BE
ARCHIPEL | group exhibition | Deweer estate | Otegem, BE
A NEW SPACE TO FLOW | Gallery Ysebaert | Sint-Martens Latem, BE
AMARE | Blauwe zaal | Brugge, BE
SCULPTURA: A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY | Gare maritime | Brussels, BE
WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST FESTIVAL | group exhibition | 404 | Ghent, BE
2022
DIE WIRKLICHKEIT IST SOWIESO DA | Weltkunstzimmer | Düsseldorf, DE
SUNNIEST HOUR OF YOUR NIGHT | Ti-Pi | Ghent, BE
STORMLOOP | Grote Markt | Herentals, BE
LABOR | CAL | Charleroi, BE
KUNST IN PUURS | group exhibition | CC Binder | Puurs, BE
EL CUARTO FLAMENCO | Galeria Hilario Galguera | Madrid, ES
(YOUR TEXT HERE) | duo exhibition with Ellen Pil | DMW Gallery | Antwerp, BE
2021
BIENVENUE PARIS | Hotel la Louisiane, FR
1.1 MILLION POUNDS | BARBÉ Urbain, BE
TROCKENWOHNEN | Kunstverein Peschkenhaus, DE
RESURRECTION SERIES | Sint-Antonius-Abtkerk Meulestede, BE
BIËNNALE BEELDIG | group exhibition | Hof ter Saksen, BE
XL | group exhibition | BARBÉ Urbain | Ghent, BE
BALLROOM PROJECT | group exhibition | Borgerhub, BE
TRAUMA | Triënnale van Brugge, Poortersloge, BE
LA PIOGGIA | Artissima, IT
XENIA | MILL, BE
GROTE PRIJS ERNEST ALBERT | De Garage, BE
L’IVRESSE DU JEU | Art Rotterdam, NL
2020
AN UNFINISHED PROJECT | Galerija Vartai | Vilnius, LT
YOU KNOW, THE WORKS | Ontsteking | Ghent, BE
POST TENEBRAS SPERO LUCEM | Galeria Hilario Galguera | Mexico-City, MX
INTERSECT | Galeria Hilario Galguera | Chicago, US
NOT OUT OF MIND, NOT OUT OF SIGHT | Riga, LV
CARBON COPY | Bruthausgallery | Claessens Canvas | Waregem, BE
BALLROOM PROJECT | online group exhibition | Antwerp, BE
2019
NOT OUT OF MIND, NOT OUT OF SIGHT | Nature House | Tartu, EE
BIENNALE VAN BELGIË | Floraliënhal | Ghent, BE
SANCHO DON’T CARE | MOLA | Wachtebeke, BE
GROWLERS, CRACKLERS & BURSTERS | Ciap kunstverein | Hasselt, BE
NOT OUT OF MIND, NOT OUT OF SIGHT | Latvia & Estonia, LV & EE
2018
SANCHO DON’T CARE | Populierenhof | Nieuwkerken Waas, BE
M-IDZOMER | Museum M | Leuven, BE
SANCHO DON’T CARE | Bruzis | Cesis, LV
SANCHO DON’T CARE | Kulturmoedet | Mors, DK
DEER FOUNTAIN | 019 | Ghent, BE
BANNER | Sancho Don’t Care #05 | Hjörring, DK
2017
JEUNE CRÉATION BIENNALE | Montrouge, FR
JCE BIENNALE | Amarante | Portugal, PT
JCE BIENNALE | Figueras | Spain, ES
2016
JCE BIENNALE | Wroclaw, PL
D’ART | Artenova | Mechelen, BE
SAGAS | Hangar 18 | Brussel, BE
SORRY NOT SORRY | Book Launch & Expo at 019 | Ghent, BE
CACHET DE LA POSTE FAISANT FOI | Fondation Hippocrène | Paris, FR
2015
DIE SUBLIEME ESTHETICA | In de Ruimte | Ghent, BE
UN GRAIN DE TOUTE BEAUTÉ | Palais de Tokyo | Paris, FR
PARIS LA DÉFENSE, CHANGE DE POINT DE VUE | Tour EDF, La Défense | Paris, FR
60E SALON DE MONTROUGE | WINNER GRAND PRIX | Montrouge, FR
2014
PETITE PIÈCE | Galerie L’Île | Paris, FR
DE NIEUWE MOLENS | Centrale for Contemporary Art | Brussel, BE
2013
SERIES | Kunstwerkt | Zuiderpershuis | Antwerpen, BE
MY SWEET DESIGN FAIR — INTERVENTION | Dutch Design Week | Eindhoven, NL
Prizes
2021
Eervolle vermelding | Grote prijs Ernest Albert | Mechelen, BE
2016
Frank Nobelsprijs voor beloftevol kunstenaar
2015
Grand prix de la Biennale de Jeune Création Européenne (JCE)
Grand prix du Salon de Montrouge
Publications
2022
Sancho Don’t Care
Monograph: 240p, published by B&L MER
Concept & text by Ory Dessau
Graphic design by Studio Luc De Rycke & Viktor Van den Braembussche.
Photography by Michiel De Cleene, Koen Vernimmen, Alwin Vyvey
2021
You know, the works
Catalogue: 128p, Graphic design: Bureau Boschberg
Photograpy: Alwin Vyvey, Michiel De Cleene, Willem Boel
2017
A see of green
Catalogue: 16p, Graphic design: Ine Meganck
Photograpy: Michiel De Cleene, Willem Boel, Koen Vernimmen
Text: Luc De Ryck, Raoul Degraeve, Melanie Deboutte
2015
De visionaire mossels | les moules visionaires | the visionary mussels
Book: 72p, Graphic design: Ine Meganck Photography: Koen Vernimmen
Text: Stéphane Corréard, Eva Barois de Caevel, Alexis Jakubowicz, Melanie Deboutte