Luc Tuymans
©image: Marc Wathieu
° 1958
Lives in Antwerp (BE), born in Mortsel (BE).
Luc Tuymans was born in 1958 in Mortsel, Belgium. He lives in Antwerp. After studying painting and art history in Brussels and Antwerp he emerged as an artist in the mid-1980s. His first, self-organised, solo exhibition took place in the once grand Thermae Palace in Ostend in 1985. Tuymans has since made a name for himself as one of the most accomplished and most sought-after contemporary painters. The series Der diagnostische Blick (‘The Diagnostic Look', 1992) might be called his international breakthrough, with its reinterpretation of the painterly based on images from a medical handbook dedicated to a goal-orientated yet disinterested vision. Quite the opposite of what painting often claims for itself. We recognise the formal characteristics of Tuymans’s work: the muted palette, the horizontal brushstrokes, the blurred and cropped imagery. In numerous series of painted images Tuymans has addressed other controversial topics, such as the Second World War (often working from photographs reproduced in the wartime Nazi propaganda magazine Signal), the Belgian Congo (Mwana Kitoko, in the Belgian Pavilion at the Venice Biennial in 2001) or contemporary global politics (The Secretary of State, after a photograph of Condoleezza Rice).
Media
>Learn more about 'the image' in the work of Luc Tuymans? Click here.
>Luc Tuymans, 2009
>Luc Tuymans, Polaroids, 1977-2007.Photography.
>Luc Tuymans, Prague, Refribell, Harbours, Waterloo, Nautilus, 1981-1982.Print, gelatin silver prints, super-8 film, 21 x 29,5 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Nautilius (nr.18), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Nautilius (nr.17), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Nautilius (nr.16), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Waterloo (nr.15), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Waterloo (nr.14), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Waterloo (nr.13), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Harbours (nr.12), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Harbours (nr.11), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Refribell (nr.10), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Refribell (nr.9), 1981-1989.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Refribell (nr.8), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Refribell (nr.7), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Refribell (nr.6), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Refribell (nr.5), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Prague (nr.4), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Prague (nr.3), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Prague (nr.2), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Prague (nr.1), 1981-1982.Photography, photograph, paper, 417 x 490 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, Feu d'artifice [Fireworks], 1982.Video, videotape u-matic, kca 30, 00:26:43.
>Luc Tuymans, Antichambre [Anteroom], 1985.Painting, oil, canvas, 70 x 80 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, La Correspondance [The Correspondence], 1985.Painting, oil on canvas, 140 x 100 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Hotelkamer [Hotel Room], 1986.Artist Novel, oil, canvas, 50 x 60 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Wiedergutmachung, 1989.Drawing, watercolour, paper, 84 x 57 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Die Zeit, 1994.Print, silkscreen; paper vélin arches 250 gr., 56 x 76 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Firewood, 1994.Print, silckscreen; paper rives 270 gr., 92 x 60 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Het Gesprek [The Conversation], 1995.Print, paper hahnemühle 200 gr., 50 x 63 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Le Verdict, 1995.Print, wallpaper, variable dimensions.
>Luc Tuymans, Ijzertoren [Yser Tower], 1995.Film, oil, canvas, 115.5 x 75.5 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Vlaams dorp [Flemish village], 1995.Artist Novel, oil, canvas, 110.5 x 144.5 cm.
>Narcisse Tordoir, Luc Tuymans, Trouble Spot • Painting, 1999.Book, ink, paper, 27 x 23.5 cm, 174 p., language : Dutch, French, English, German, publisher : MUseum van Hedendaagse Kunst/NICC, Antwerpen, ISBN : 90-72828-06-2.
>Luc Tuymans, Altar, 2002.Print, paper, sandblasted perspex, 60 x 80 x 5 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, The Rumour, 2002-2003.Installation, ink, paper, plexi, wood, 91.56 x 516 x 6.5 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Niks, 2003.Print, silkscreen; ink on paper, 90 x 75 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Drumset (Series II), 2003.Print, paper j. wathman 1961 hmp, 44.1 x 34.3 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Drumset (Series I), 2003.Print, paper j. wathman 1961 hmp, 44.1 x 34.3 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Untitled (Woman) I, 2003.Print, paper j. wathman 1961 hmp, 44.1 x 34.3 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Premonition (Series II), 2003.Print, paper j. wathman 1961 hmp, 53.3 x 44.2 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Shore, 2005.Print, silkscreen; ink on paper, 63 x 51 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Simulation, 2007-2014.Painting, wall painting (temporary), 403 x 600 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Ballroom Dancing, 2007.Print, ink on paper, 1050 x 750 mm.
>Luc Tuymans, 4PM , 2011.Print, screenprint on paper, 70 x 56 cm .
>Luc Tuymans, Plates, 2012.Print, portfolio of 5 lithographs on velin d ‘arches, 5 x (70 x 50 cm).
>Luc Tuymans, The Valley , 2012.Print, screenprint on paper, 71 x 72.5 cm .
>Luc Tuymans, Peaches and Technicolor, 2013.Print, screenprint on paper, ed. 75 + xv+ 10 ap + 5 ap, 76 x 56 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, Orchid, 2013.Print, screenprint on rives arches 250 gr, paper: 73.5 x 56 cm , image 56.5 x 43.5 cm.
>Luc Tuymans, The Gap - Abstracte kunst uit België. Een selectie., 2016.Book, ink, paper, 28.5 x 24.5 cm, 31 p., language : Dutch, publisher : Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst, Antwerpen.
>Luc Tuymans, The Gap. Selected Abstract Art from Belgium, 2016.Book, ink, paper, 29 x 24.9 cm, 149 p., language : English, limited edition : 766/1200, publisher : Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art, London, ISBN : 978-09-5735-188-2.
>Luc Tuymans, Flag.Painting.
Exhibitions & Ensembles
> Exhibition: AMBERES – Roberto Bolaño’s Antwerp. 07 June 2019 - 15 September 2019.
> Exhibition: A Story of the Image: Old & New Masters from Antwerp (Singapore). 13 August 2009 - 06 September 2009.
> Exhibition: El Hotel Eléctrico – Rooms available . 21 February 2014 - 11 May 2014.
> Exhibition: EXTRA MUROS: A Story of the Image: Old & New Masters from Antwerp (Shanghai). 01 May 2009 - 21 June 2009.
> Exhibition: EXTRA MUROS: Jubilee. Luc Tuymans – I don't get it. 01 June 2007 - 09 September 2007.
> Exhibition: EXTRA MUROS: Visite Genk - Genkenaren kiezen kunst. 02 July 2014 - 31 August 2014.
> Exhibition: LATT: Dialogue #2 Luc Tuymans & Vanessa van Obberghen. 04 April 2014 - 15 June 2014.
> Exhibition: Meeting Points 7 – Ten Thousand Wiles and a Hundred Thousand Tricks. 25 October 2013 - 16 February 2014.
> Exhibition: M HKA in het Paleis op de Meir. .
> Exhibition: Museum E!: The residents' choice. 23 April 2017 - 22 October 2017.
> Exhibition: Salon de Peinture. 17 January 2019 - 31 March 2019.
> Exhibition: The Collection. 28 April 2017 - 31 December 2021.
> Exhibition: The collection III – Spring 2003, with Interventions by Gert Robijns, Wilhelm Sasnal & Bojan Fajfric. 22 February 2003 - 18 May 2003.
> Exhibition: The collection II – Winter 2002. 23 November 2002 - 09 February 2003.
> Exhibition: The Collection XIII – LUZ (Intervention and Composition by Carla Arocha) – Winter 2005-06. 25 November 2005 - 12 November 2006.
> Exhibition: The Collection XIX – A Story of the Image (Jubilee). 01 June 2007 - 19 August 2007.
> Exhibition: The collection XXI – Winter 2007. 01 December 2007 - 10 March 2008.
> Exhibition: The collection XXVII – East of 4°24'. 03 March 2011 - 21 August 2011.
> Exhibition: The collection XXVIII – If you shoot a bullet in a vacuum, will it keep travelling forever? (Emily Wardill). 17 June 2011 - 18 September 2011.
> Exhibition: The collection XXXIII – The Collection as a Character. 07 June 2013 - 22 September 2013.
> Exhibition: THE GAP – Abstract Art from Belgium. A Selection. Curator: Luc Tuymans. 30 January 2016 - 29 May 2016.
> Exhibition: The Situation is Fluid. 25 January 2025 - 03 January 2027.
> Exhibition: Trouble Spot. Painting. 08 May 1999 - 22 August 1999.
> Exhibition: Urgent Conversations Athens - Antwerp. 31 October 2016 - 05 February 2017.
> Exhibition: Visite. 03 April 2009 - 10 September 2009.
> Exhibition: Visite Roeselare – The Green Line. 05 May 2016 - 19 June 2016.
> Exhibition: When Faith Moves Mountains. 17 July 2022 - 09 October 2022.
> Exhibition: Worth Fighting For. 14 November 2022 - 14 December 2022.
> Ensemble: Aanwinsten 2013 [Acquisitions 2013].
> Ensemble: Aanwinsten 2014 [Acquisitions 2014].
> Ensemble: Aanwinsten 2017 [Acquisitions 2017].
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> Ensemble: Addressing Memory.
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> Ensemble: An Architecture for Art - Luc Tuymans.
> Ensemble: ARCHIEF JEF LAMBRECHT.
> Ensemble: Audiodescriptie - De Collectie.
> Ensemble: beeld.
> Ensemble: Belgische kunst [Belgian Art].
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> Ensemble: Catastrophe and The Relevance of Art.
> Ensemble: Collectie Vlaamse Gemeenschap.
> Ensemble: ESTATE JEF LAMBRECHT.
> Ensemble: Kamer 6 [Room 6].
> Ensemble: M HKA_DEFAULT_PUBLICATIONS.
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> Ensemble: M HKA_DEFAULT_WORKS.
> Ensemble: NUCLEUS.
> Ensemble: The Collection.
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> Ensemble: TOPICS.
> Ensemble: Worth Fighting For.