Hans Op de Beeck | Art Brussels 2026
At Art Brussels 2026, Hans Op de Beeck presents a series of sculptures. Rendered in his characteristic grey palette, the works evoke a suspended, almost theatrical stillness. The spheres, reminiscent of scientific models or abstract systems, form a curious, enigmatic ensemble, as if part of a private collection. Following his widely acclaimed exhibition at KMSKA Antwerp, Op de Beeck continues to explore the notion or stillness and suspense through immersive, sensory environments.
Spheres, 2024 | Polyamide, wood, coating | 137,5 x 14 x 126,5 cm
Hans Op de Beeck
Zhai-Liza (mother's shoes) (small version), 2026 | Polyester, polyamide, coating | 40 x 40 x 160 cm
Hans Op de Beeck
Zhai-Liza (mother’s shoes, small version) (2026)
Multidisciplinary visual artist Hans Op de Beeck has created several life-size sculptures of figures in recent years, including quite a few of children. Typically, these monochrome grey figures appear in a serene moment of play, silence, rest, concentration or sleep. With Zhai-Liza, and some other new child figures, Op de Beeck introduces a new, playful element, namely that of dressing up with costumes and props.
The girl, Zhai-Liza, seems to be in a domestic context because of the women’s shoes she uses which probably came from her mother. The dancing dress, the fan, and mother’s shoes, which are much too large, seem to give the extremely tiny fragile girl a feeling of empowerment, causing her to raise her chin with overconfidence. Dressing up, playing with found or home-made clothes, outsized parental clothing, fancy dress costumes and props, is an age-old and universal part of being a child.
Zhai-Liza (angel) (2024)
Zhai-Liza (angel) portrays a small, delicate girl seated on a low bench, her chin resting on her right hand as she gazes ahead with a melancholic, listless expression. Two small angel wings adorn her back, and a magic wand rests in her left hand. It appears she is momentarily resisting her fairytale role, her cheerfulness entirely absent. This work was also presented at the Nocturnal Journey exhibition at KMSKA, Antwerp where Hans Op de Beeck created one large, experiential trail through a fictional, mysterious place. The exhibition was a dark evocation of a deserted nocturnal park, in which all kinds of images of characters, still lifes, objects, animals, architectural constructions and natural elements merged into a peculiar world.
Zhai-Liza (angel), 2024 | Polyester, polyamide, coating | 52 x 59 x 81 cm
Hans Op de Beeck
Lakescape, 2025 | Polyester, metal, coating | 83,5 x 9,5 x 65,5 cm
Hans Op de Beeck
Lakescape (2025)
Lakescape (2025) condenses this expansive artistic vision into an intimate, sculptural format. The work presents a tranquil waterside scene, stripped of anecdotal detail and human presence. As in Op de Beeck’s monumental installations and environments the landscape here is suspended in a moment of contemplative stillness. The lake becomes both a physical space and a psychological one: a threshold between reality, presence and absence.
Also available: A Piece of Cake (2026)
This limited edition sculpture by Op de Beeck was realized in collaboration with Art Fix, Galerie Ron Mandos and the artist. It takes inspiration from the larger, 2020 version titled Happy Birthday. This sculpture is made in an edition of 60 + 6 AP’s.
A Piece of Cake, 2026 | Mixed media sculpture | 25 x 21 x 17 cm
Hans Op de Beeck
About the Artist
Hans Op de Beeck (BE, 1969) is a multidisciplinary artist working across large installations, sculptures, films, drawings, paintings, photographs, and texts. His work reflects on the complexity of contemporary society and explores universal themes of meaning and mortality. He is known for creating immersive, sensory environments that invite viewers to experience images in a direct and personal way.
Artist page
