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Kristof Santy

Kristof Santy (born in 1987, Roeselare, Belgium) is a contemporary painter whose work is rooted in folk traditions and everyday aesthetics. 

 

His vibrant, figurative paintings explore the visual language of daily life—ranging from culinary scenes and domestic interiors to landscapes and folkloric references. Influenced by myth, memory, and craftsmanship, Santy renders familiar motifs through a bold, playful lens. 

 

Before pursuing art full-time, Santy worked in a factory and only rediscovered painting in his mid-twenties. The specific discovery of works by Jean Brusselmans had a profound influence on Santy's own work as he began to find enormous freedom in the expressive painting of typically mundane and everyday subjects. Subsequently, Santy discovered his own individual way of painting, producing his first figurative works and still lives.

 

Since then, he has built an impressive artistic career, developing a distinctive style characterized by flat, geometric planes, saturated colors, and a non-narrative, intuitive approach. 

 

His compositions evoke the spirit of "Images d'Épinal" and transform ordinary subjects into monumental, stylized visions. His work has been exhibited internationally, including solo shows at Sorry We're Closed Brussels (Playtime, 2023) and Christine König Galerie Vienna (Epinal, 2024). He has been included in group exhibitions at Abby Museum, Mu.ZEE, S.M.A.K. and kunsthaus nrw. 

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