WALTER LEBLANC

He studies at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Antwerp from 1949-1954 and at the Institut Supérieur des Beaux-Arts in Antwerp from 1955-1956. In 1956 he marries Nicole Labedz. In 1958 he founds the artists’ group G58. From 1959 torsion becomes the most important pictorial and graphic element in his work. In 1961 he has his first major solo exhibition at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. Since 1962 Leblanc was a member of the international artists group NEUE TENDENZ.

In 1964 he integrates his works into architecture for the first time. In 1975 the work group Archétypes is created. From 1977 to 1986 he teaches at the Institut d’Architecture et d’Urbanism in Antwerp. Between 1981 and 1986 he creates the work for the Simonis métro station in Brussels. Leblanc plays a pioneering role in European art in the post-war period. The artist garnered international attention especially with his Torsions. Leblanc can be classified without question alongside the big names of the Zero movement, whose network extends from Germany, Belgium and Italy right across Switzerland. As one of the pioneers of contemporary art production, abstraction is a focal point of his work, as is the relationship between materiality and light. To underscore this connection and implement it in his works, Leblanc uses unusual materials such as sand, cotton threads, latex. PVC and metal. His work should not, however, be defined simply as geometrical abstraction. Instead one could speak of a sensory geometry or order. For in his works basic geometrical forms become stringent constructive, rhythmical compositions by means of systematic superimposition, staggering, juxtaposition and torsion.

1986 Walter Leblanc dies on the 14th January in Silly after a fatal accident.