Born in Dendermonde, Belgium, in 1979.
Lives and works in Kortrijk, Belgium.
Graduated at Sint-Lucas Institute, Ghent, Belgium
Michaël Aerts creates sculptures, drawings and performances in which the importance of references to the European or global cultural and historical past is pivotal. Equally important is the exploration of the potential of the symbols, the codes, the forms and functions of that very heritage with respect to the arts, the artist, and 21st century man.
Michaël Aerts’ monumental sculptures, for instance, are formally based on historical models (the bust, the obelisk, …) but are often realized in flight case material. In this way, the typical contemporary dimension of mobility is projected onto a traditionally immobile type of sculpture. In his most recent art, Michaël Aerts also includes the theme of ‘packaging’, in which the packaging symbolizes the temporary concealment of the object for the purpose of moving it from one place to another, from one period to another, from one culture to another.
In an era in which everything has become extremely mobile, where all sorts of codes and systems of meaning that belong to a particular culture or subculture (from purely artistic to social), and which are often focused on stability, are continuously shifting, Michaël Aerts, as an artist, sets out to reflect upon how we are to deal with our rich heritage.
Solo exhibitions
2024
The possibility of the simultaneous, Hilde Vandaele Gallery, Watou, Belgium
Flämische Meister - Neue Gemälde und Skultpuren, with Vadim Vosters, Galerie J.J. Heckenhauer e.K.,München, Germany
2023
Identity & Culture, with Corina Gertz, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf, Germany
Michaël Aerts & Vadim Vosters, Kusseneers Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
Michaël Aerts & Vadim Vosters, Salon 17, Pottes, Belgium
2022
Launch Catalog + exhibition, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf, germany
2021
Our New Cultures, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf, Germany
2020
Planetarium, (Vlaamse meesters In situ) Onze-Lieve-Vrouw kerk, Dendermonde, Belgium
2019
Planetarium, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf, Germany
Cach derri re mes poings, Whitehouse Gallery, Lovenjoel, Belgium
2018
RED Gallery Antwerp, Belgium
That's the way I like it, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf
Inauguration monument Bobbejaan Schoepen, Lichtaart, Belgium
2017
Comme à Ostende, Salon Blanc, Ostende, Belgium
Slices, hotel Drie Eiken, Antwerpen, Belgium
2016
Something in the Way, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf, Germany
2015
Michaël Aerts - Would Like to Use Your Current Location, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf, Germany
2014
It was like so, but wasn't, Deweer Gallery, Otegem, Belgium
2013
Project Space, Deweer Gallery, ART13 London, UK
2012
Club 7.5, Paris, France
Everything Will Burn Baby Burn, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf, Germany
New Positions, Deweer Gallery, Art Cologne, Cologne, Germany
2011
Buy it, use it, break it, fix it, trash it, change it, mail upgrade it, Deweer Gallery, Otegem, Belgium
2010
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours!, Deutschlandpremieren 2010, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf, Germany
An O’Neill Drama, A Whistler’s Mama, Galerie Ron Mandos, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2009
Please Please Me, De Brakke Grond, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ridge Ecstacy – New drawings and paintings, Deweer Gallery, Otegem, Belgium
A Night at the Playboy Mansion, Federico Luger Gallery, Milano, Italy
2008
Solo Show, Art Brussels, Deweer Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
The Immaculate Collection, Deweer Art Gallery, Otegem, Belgium
2006
Onetwenty Gallery, Ghent, Belgium
2004
Galerie C. De Vos, Aalst, Belgium
Group exhibitions
2024
An echo in time, Leroy Breweries, by Hilde Vandaele Gallery, Watou, Belgium
Je suis, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf, Germany
2022
Eden, Augustijnenekerk, Roeselare, Belgium
2021
The shadow of the Cross, Kusseneers Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2019
Belgian Thoughts, Märkisches Museum Witten, Witten, Germany
Hopstreet Gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2018
Under the Parachute of Shapes and Colors, Artworks Advisory, New York, USA
2017
On the Go, Kunstroute maART, curated by Monia Warnez, Waregem, Belgium
2016
Coup de Ville, Triënnale for Contemporary Art, curated by Stef Van Bellingen, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
2015
@yourservice, Egmontpaleis, Brussel, Belgium
Sweet 18, Kasteel d’Ursel, Hingene, Belgium
The Drawing Room II, Deweer Gallery, Otegem, Belgium
Deweer Gallery - Het Portret van een familie, de Directeurswoning, Roeselare, Belgium
2014
Another Dream, Another Sense, Another Mind, Bibliotheek Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid, KU Leuven, Belgium
Capita Selecta, Broelmuseum, Kortrijk, Belgium
Collector's Room #5 - Pleasure, Deweer Gallery, Otegem, Belgium
2013
Middle Gate Geel '13, De Halle, Geel / Gasthuismuseum Geel / Kunsthuis Yellow Art / St.-Dimpnakerk, Belgium
Kunst uit privé-bezit, Stadsmuseum 't Schippershof, Menen, Belgium
Cultural Freedom in Europe (curator Filip Luyckx), Europe (to the power of) -
Goethe-Institut Brussels, Belgium
2012
Save Europian Home (curator Marina Martiæ), Belgrade Cultural Centre Art Gallery, Serbia
West of East – An Exhibition on Europe in 6 chapters, Gallery for Contemporary Art « Y », Minsk, White Russia
Re-Opening, Deweer Gallery, Otegem, Belgium
België – Take Over 01, Galerie J.J. Heckenhauer, Brussels, Belgium
Szenarien über Europa (III) (curator Filip Luyckx), Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig, Germany
The Drawing Room, Deweer Gallery, Otegem, Belgium
2011
Tender Buttons – Becoming Gertrude Stein (curator Guy Bovyn), University Ghent, Belgium
Kunst moet rollen (curator Elias Tieleman), Centrum Beeldende Kunst, Utrecht, Netherlands
RAW (curator Chris Driessen), Lustwarande 2011, Tilburg, The Netherlands
When the fairy tale never ends (curator Lara Pan), Ford Project, New York, USA
2010
FAKE!, zomerproject Beeldende Kunst Stad Aalst, Belgium
Young Collectors # 2 (curators Johan Delcour & Monia Warnez), Sign – Tentoonstellingsruimte voor jonge kunst, Groningen, The Netherlands
Atmospheres (curator Lara Pan), Galerie Pangée, Montréal, Canada
No Contemplation, Federico Luger Gallery, Milano, Italy
30 Years Deweer Gallery, Otegem, Belgium
2009
Arrivals and Departures Europe, (curators Andrea Bruciati & Walter Gasperoni), Mole Vanvitelliana, Ancona, Italy
Pandora's Sound Box (curator Lara Pan), Performa 09, New York, USA
2008
UPDATE, Deweer Art Gallery, Otegem, Belgium
Cuesta (curator Frederik Van Laere), Tielt, Belgium
Amusez-vous (curators Johan Delcour & Monia Warnez), Galerie Koal, Berlin, Germany
Ephemeral Fringes (curator Filip Luyckx), Art Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
2007
Versus4 (curators Christophe De Jaeger, Olivier Deprez & Bjorn Scherlippens), Site Pamele-Maagdendale, Oudenaarde, Belgium
Nighthawks (curator Christophe De Jaeger), Acec Dok Noord 4 hal 20, Ghent, Belgium
Kick box project, S.M.A.K. & Maria-Middelares, Ghent, Belgium
Carte blanche à l’Atelier 340 Muzeum, Comptoir asbl, Liège, Belgium
Arteconomy: project by Concordia, Waregem, Belgium
2006
Ephemerality (curator Christophe De Jaeger), Menen, Belgium
Filiaal van de Hemel, Lokeren, Belgium
2005
Talentbeurs, Atelier 340 Muzeum, Jette, Brussels, Belgium
Missies (cura tor Stef van Bellingen), De Brakke Grond, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2004
Mo(nu)ment@bornem, Bornem, Belgium
De Alpen, Netwerkgalerij, Aalst, Belgium
Vierkantswortel van het geheugen (curator Filip Luyckx), Huis Van Winckel, Dendermonde, Belgium
2003
Fame Happening, Festival van Vlaanderen (S-L Platel), Ghent, Belgium
Collectzie, Museum van Deinze en de Leiestreek, Deinze, Belgium
2002
M/V, Kunst-Zicht, Ghent, Belgium
The Pizza Project (curator Yasmine Nessah), Thermische Centrale, Ghent, Belgium
Sint-Lukasgalerij, Brussels, Belgium
2001
Coming People, S.M.A.K., Ghent, Belgium
Public & Private Collections (Selected)
Dingkök Collection, Turkey
Ministery of Foreign Affairs (FOD Buitenlandse Zaken), Brussels, Belgium
Collection Katoen Natie, Antwerp, Belgium