Nel Bonte
°1986, Roeselaere (B). Lives and works in Antwerp.
In her sculptural work, Nel Bonte (°1986) lets personal memories and everyday objects interact in a play of image, colour and scale. The sculptures sometimes strongly resemble scale models or prototypes that interact with the public. Small, trivial objects are magnified. Often they are fragments or parts of objects from the world of children that she brings together to form a new whole.
The works are both organic in form and minimal in line. With an eye for aesthetic forms of building constructions, Bonte translates everyday objects into almost architectural sculptures. This distilled vision creates a tension arc with the naive, organic forms. Her art pushes the boundaries of traditional ceramic figurations and transforms into hybrid sculptures that explore themes of tension, vulnerability and sensitivity.
By bringing together works with different textures and vocabulary, Bonte creates new connections that form a playful stylized world. In her creative process, she looks beyond the aesthetics of the material used. In doing so, she uses both the specific properties and the limitations of the different materials.
In recent sculptures Bonte refers to the 'homo ludens'. Iconic forms of children's toys that connect with our collective memory. In the figuration of the game Bonte searches for the beauty and value of human vulnerability and finitude. This combination of playful and deeper themes makes Bonte's work unique. With a deceptive playfulness and naivety the archetype, the myth and the symbolic value of an image are explored.
NEL BONTE (°1986, Roeselare) lives and works in Antwerp and studied visual arts at the KASK, Ghent and obtained a master's degree in visual arts (KASK, Antwerp) and has been exhibiting since 2010. Recent exhibitions are, among others, Art Antwerp; W.A.R.P. led by Stef Van Bellingen (Sint-Niklaas, B), ‘Kamers van Zé’, Antwerp; ‘Oreilles géometrique’, Berlare; ‘The Biennial of Ideas’, Menen; CAPS, Brussels and Ostend, Art on Paper, Brussels (B), ‘Beestig’, in crates by Jan Moeyaert, Damme; ‘Alle rechtlijnen zijn bozen’, CC De Ververij, curated by Jan Leconte, Ronse (B); ‘Kresija Gallery’ Ljubljana (SI), Zebrastraat, Ghent, ‘Compost', curated by Els Wuyts, Herzele.
Available works
Website of the artist: https://www.nelbonte.com
Gallery Shows
Solo
2025 Tamed Animals, solo exhibition
Group
2023 Future Present Continuous
Extended Curriculum Vitae
Education
2007 - 2010 Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten, Master Visual Arts, Antwerp (B)
2004 - 2005 KASK Conservatorium, Bachelor visual arts, Ghent (B)
Solo & duo Exhibitions
2025 'Tamed Animals', Eva Steynen Gallery Antwerp (B)
2024 Art Antwerp, with Eva Steynen Gallery, Antwerp (B)
2023
‘Oreilles géometrique’, CC Stroming, Berlare (B)
2021
‘Les invités’, Rivoli, ism Caps, Brussel (B)
‘Storms end somewhere’, Galerie Pinsart, Brugge (B)
2020
‘Playground’, Roeselare (B)
2018
Zebrastraat, Gent (B)
‘Seasons in the sun’, K1, Warp, Sint Niklaas (B)
‘Yart’, Duivelsteen, Gent (B)
2013
NVT Galerie, Gent (B), curators Tom Maeseele, Elske Jansen (duo-exhibition)
‘4N-CASN’, Antwerpen (B), Business center de ijsfabriek, organisator Ingeri Van Alsenoy
‘De muur’, Antwerpen (B), Cultuur centrum Berchem, curator Egon Verleyen, (duo-exhibition)
2012
‘S-250’, Antwerpen (B), stadsfeestzaal Antwerp, curator Britt Vervliet
2010
‘Vama Veche’, het Entrepot, Brugge (B)
Group Exhibitions
2025 'Memories shape the future', ism KULeuven & Metaforum, Leuven (B)
2024
'CODA', Caps, Kursaal, Oostende (B)
'De biënnale van ideeën', Het voorstel #3 curated by Luk Lambrecht, Menen (B)
Art on Paper, Brussels with Eva Steynen Gallery (B)
'Future Present Continuous', Eva Steynen gallery, Antwerpen (B)
'Fugas & Pimpelmezen, curated by Els Vermeersch, stichting Lucien De Geus, Poperingen (B)
2023
‘KamersvanZé’, Van Schoonbekestraat, Antwerp Art weekend, Antwerpen (B)
2022
‘Dance and performance art video, Regauche, Brussel (B)
‘KERK’, gecureerd en collectie Nick Ervinck, Middelkerke (B)
‘Draw me a house’, gecureerd door Jonas Vansteenkiste, Kortrijk (B)
‘Paperwork II’, private collection Roger Raveel ism Caps, Oostende (B),
2021
‘De Biennale van ideeen’ gecureerd door Hans Martens, Menen (B)
‘Tout connaître, rien comprendre’, Galerie Lien Bonte, Antwerpen (B)
‘WOLIBO & CO’, Galerie Pont & Plas, gecureerd door Aline Vandeplas, Gent (B)
‘Turning monsters into pets’, Batiment A, gecureerd door Pieter Léon Vermeersch, Leuven (B)
‘A playground for species’, Studio Nel Bonte, Lichtervelde (B)
‘BEESTIG’, stadfestival Damme, gecureerd door Jan Moeyaert, Damme (B) (cat)
‘Onder ons gezegd’ georganiseerd door Marjan Verhaeghe, WARP (B)
2020
‘Alle rechte lijnen zijn gebogen’, CC De Ververij, gecureerd door Jan Leconte, Ronse (B)
‘Inside / Out, Kasteel Borluut (B), gecureerd door Free Pectoor, Brantt en Elke Desutter (cat)
‘Composte, gecureerd door Els Wuyts, Herzele (B)
2019
‘Kresija Gallery’ Ljubljana (SI)
‘Moment’, Tongeren (B) (cat)
‘Labo#4’, Leuven (B) (cat)
‘Artecture’, Cwart, Knokke (B)
2018
MORBEE Gallery, Knokke (B)
2017
‘INPUT-OUTPUT’ , De Bond, Brugge (B), curator Roxane Baeyens (cat).
‘Ongezien2’, Museumnacht, Antwerpen (B) (cat.)
‘TIG#5’, De Koer, TUMULT fm, Gent (B) (cat.)
‘Arttructroc’, BOZAR, Brussel (B)
PRIX MEDIATINE, la médiatine, Brussel (B)
2016
‘Interrupting the city’, Stadsfeestzaal, Antwerpen (B), curatoren Bert Danckaert, Sarah Van Binsbergen, Pascal Gielen
2015
‘Buiten de grenzen’,Beaufort 2015, Sint Rochuskerk Blankenberge (B), curator Caroline Voet, Leen De Brabandere (cat.)
‘Les bruit des choses’, Braem paviljoen, Middelheimmuseum, Antwerpen (B)
2014
‘Kunstsalon Sant’, Brugge (B), curator Marianne Van Boxelaere
2013
Muhkademie, Muhka, Antwerpen (B), curatoren Johan Pas, Nico Dockx (cat.)
2011
‘Blind date’, Extra City, Antwerpen, curatoren Nico Dockx, Dirk Vander Eecken, (cat.)
2010
‘CLUB MORAL rvstd’, Antwerpen (B), curator Danny Devos, (performance)
2010
‘L’Abondance’, Hofstraat, Antwerpen (B), curator Koen Theys
Integrated Art
2022
Looking back, looking forward’, Hemiksem (B)
2021
‘Pongo I’, Geel, schetsvoorstel (B)
‘STAP-O-STRADE’, KEI, Oostduinkerke, schetsvoorstel (B)
2020
‘Doef’, Ons Zonneke, Landen (B)
2017
‘Sniffer’, Kipvis, Vlissingen, schetsontwerp (NL)
2015
‘Meme’, WZC ter Potterie, schetsontwerp (B)
2013
‘Bidibu’, Kinderdag verblijf Bambi, Beringen (B)
2013
‘RE3’, Campus Vesta, Ranst (B)
‘Methuna, DVC 7bergen, Ranst (B)
‘Deux bancs square’, Brussel, schetsontwerp (B)
2011
‘2-Pillio’, Ocmw Hoogstraten (B)
Awards
2022
Cultureel Ambassadeur, Roeselare (B), laureaat
2013
Prijs Godecharle, Brussel (B), Laureaat
Residencies
2021
Saeftinghe, in samenwerking met CBK Zeeland (NL)
2019
There is A storm copy that, Ant werp ART, in collaboration with Frans Masereel Centrum (B)
Werkbezoek, in collaboration with Jan Van Rijswijckcentrum en WARP, Ljubljana (SI)
2018
Artist Village, in collaboration with WARP en Beeldenstorm/Daglicht, Eindhoven (NL)
Back to Basic, Artelis residentie, Haukijärvi (F)
2017
Summerschool #2, making public domain, Middelheimmuseum, Antwerpen (B)
2010
Verbeke Foundation, Stekene (B), ‘Master maquette’, curator Nadia Naveau
Publications
2021
Nomade in Kunstenland, OKV nr.4, Daan Rau, 2021, p 2 - p 6
A playground for species, hardcover boek, 2021
2020
4321 vragen aan 123 kunstenaars, Hilde Van Canneyt, december, 2020, p. 591 - p. 596
Artikel in de Art Couch, ‘Kunstenaars gaan in dialoog met Jan Van Eyck,door Benedict Vandaele, juli, 2020
Tekst naar aanleiding van de solo tentoonstelling ‘PLAYGROUND’, Els Wuyts, februari, 2020
2019
Over het streven naar volmaaktheid, een ontmoeting met Nel Bonte, Hans Theys, januari, 2019
Gesprekken met hedendaagse kunstenaars, Hilde Van Canneyt, oktober, 2019
Labo#4, April, 2019, p.14-15
Cwartaal nr.4, maart, 2019
2018
Kunstenplatform Warp, Laureline Soubrey, oktober, 2018
H Art nr. 182, Juni, 2018
2017
Input - Output, De Bond, oktober, 2017
Prix Médiatine, Wolubilis, februari, 2017, p.29
2016
Stimulans 16, Ann - Sophie Marien en Catherine Baelde, mei, 2016, p. 10 - p.11
2014
One armed man, Jens Dawn, DOP platform vzw, 2014, p. 60
Pro - positions, Art and / as education, 2363 - 2013, Nico Dockx - Els De Bruyn en Johan Pas, maart, 2014, p. 304
2013
Mukhazine, Muhkademy, 2013
2012
De Hoogstraatse maand, maart, 2012, p. 14 - p. 15
2011
Blind date, Nico Dockx, maart, 2011, p. 10