Florian Tomballe
’Sculptures and Drawings’
07.09.2024 — 06.10.2024
PLUS-ONE Gallery is very excited to announce the first solo exhibition by Florian Tomballe at the gallery. Florian Tomballe, born in 1988, lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium. He is skilled as both a draughtsman and a sculptor, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. After graduating as a sculptor from the Royal Academy of Antwerp, Tomballe developed his skills in figurative art, steadily refining his artistic vision.
His first solo exhibition at PLUS-ONE Gallery, titled ‘Sculptures and Drawings’, features a body of works created over the past few years, many of which are being shown for the first time. Tomballe rarely works from a concrete idea; instead, he uses form and deformation as a starting point for his creations. This can range from busts to full figures, driven by intuition and a responsive approach to the emerging image, without being tied to a predetermined form or content. His sources of inspiration are clear: the archaic world around the Mediterranean, particularly the period of archaic sculpture from 800 to 480 B.C. Using pathos to evoke emotion and drama, Tomballe creates a unique language influenced by the strong formal elements of Modernism.
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Florian Tomballe, born in 1988, lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium. He is skilled as both a draughtsman and a sculptor, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. After graduating as a sculptor from the Royal Academy of Antwerp, Tomballe developed his skills in figurative art, steadily refining his artistic vision.
Tomballe's style combines Synthetic Abstraction, Cubism and elements of the Archaic world, including prominent figures like the Greek Kouros and Kore. He draws inspiration from Braque, Picasso, Permeke, and Flemish Expressionism and Modernism. Next to sculpture, Tomballe found a way to express his visual language in the form of drawing. Using the same material for his sculpture as for the drawing Tomballe creates a 2D image which functions as a sculptural element in the room.
Tomballe's work has evolved from an ancient understanding of the human figure to a refined classical approach. This can be seen in his large full-standing figures and portraits. His sculptures often explore the interaction between organic forms and abstract ideas, encouraging viewers to see familiar shapes in new ways. His careful manipulation of materials results in pieces that are both tactile and visually striking, capturing a sense of movement and fluidity.
His work has gained international recognition through presentations in London, New York, Antwerp, and Spain. Tomballe's pieces are part of collections owned by the LVMH group and notable collectors such as Gordon Sumner (Sting), Peter Marino, Edouard Vermeulen (Natan) and various private collectors from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Norway, the USA, the UAE, and Canada. His work has also been featured in several art magazines, including Akt Magazine, ABSoluut magazine and SABATO.
Recent solo exhibitions took place at De Garage/Museum Hof van Busleyden in Mechelen, Exhibition Space 38CC in Delft, Galeri Kant in Copenhagen, and PLUS-ONE Gallery in Antwerp. He has participated in numerous group exhibitions, including at Museum Schunck Heerlen, the Museum of Contemporary Art Ghent, Seoul Museum of Art, De Warande Turnhout, Z33 House for Contemporary Art, and Kunstvereniging Diepenheim. His work is exhibited internationally and included in collections such as De Bruin-Heijn, SMAK Ghent, and the Flemish Government.
In 2024, he presented Joy Sauce at Performa6 in Vonk Centrale, held a solo exhibition at PLUS-ONE Gallery, and participated in Universiteit Lichtekooi in Antwerp. Upcoming exhibitions include a solo show at 427 Gallery in Riga and a group exhibition at SMAK in spring 2025. Lutgens is represented by PLUS-ONE Gallery and is also the founder of the artist space Red Herring Salon (currently closed) and a board member of the artist association NICC. He lives and works in Antwerp.
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Exhibition: 07.09.2024 — 06.10.2024
Opening: Saturday 07.09.2024
from 1pm — 6pm
General opening hours:
Wednesday — Saturday: 1pm - 6pm
PLUS-ONE Gallery
Vlaamsekaai 73
2000 Antwerp (BE)
