José Vermeersch - The bronzes

Welcome at the website about José Vermeersch. One of the most important Flemisch sculpturers of the post-war period.

José Vermeersch produced works in bronze starting in 1969 and developed a patina that closely approximates the skin aspect of his ceramic works. A lot of these important sculptures were exhibited in a.o. Venice, Mexico city, Paris, Amsterdam and San Fransisco.

Biography

1922	born in Bissegem (Belgium) on 6 November the third of nine children in a family of flax-workers
1934-1941	works as an apprentice for a house painter in Bissegem and takes evening classes at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Kortrijk
1941-1943	Royal Academy of Fine Arts and National Higher Institute in Antwerp; completes live model workshop lessons taught by Walter Vaes
1943	goes into hiding in Westvleteren during the German occupation
1945-1946	resumes his education at the National Higher Institute in Antwerp; takes classes in figure painting taught by Constant Permeke and weaves personally designed tapestry together with his friend Paul De Knock
1947	marries Diane Beck on 21 October
1948	settles in Bissegem
1951	settles in Heule; initially works as a house painter, then establishes his own company manufacturing decorative mantelpieces andfireplaces and only paints during weekends
1959	starts teaching weekend courses in decorative painting at the Free Technical Institute in Roeselare
1961	settles in Lendelede; more actively involved in painting and continues exhibiting his work
1963	builds a large workshop including an oven for ceramics; starts producing sculptures: ceramic studies of the human body and animals
1964	instructor of the design class at the Free Technical Institute in Roeselare
1968	discovers a liberating style in painting
1973	appointed member of the Royal Academy of Science, Humanities and Fine Arts in Brussels (Belgium)
1979	organises an ‘autumn camp’ in Reninge and bakes 100 large and small statues in a field oven
1983	Prize of the Flemish Community
1985	builds a field oven in Lendelede in which he bakes 35 large statues
1996	commission by Luud Maas for the production of a large group of bronze statues ‘The Pack’
1997	dies at home in Lendelede on 13 December

Bibliography

Dries Vanhaecke, Rik Vermeersch, J. Vermeersch, Kunstforum exhibition catalogue, Schelderode, 1970
Hugo Brutin, José Vermeersch. Kunstpocket Serie 2/N.1, Kunstforum, Schelderode, 1975
Marcel Duchateau, José Vermeersch, Lannoo, Tielt, 1978
Jan D’Haese, Herfst ’79. De veldoven van José Vermeersch, Lannoo, Tielt, 1979
Heinz Speilmann, Willy Van den Bussche, José Vermeersch. Bronze & Keramik, exhibition catalogue Belgische Haus Köln, 1982
Dorris U. Kuyken-Schneider, Heinz Spielmann. Vijf kunstenaars. Vijf aspecten can ceramiek. Fünf Künstler. Fünf Wege in der Keramik. Exhibition catalogue Boymans-van Beuningen Museum Rotterdam en Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, 1983
Piet Jaspaert, Marcel van Jole, Willy Van den Bussche et al., José Vermeersch. Het gesprek, exhibition catalogue Dhondt-Dhaenens Meuseum Deurle, Galerij Tamara and C.C. Hasselt, ed. Galerij Paul Dewever, 1983
Hector Waterschoot, José Vermeersch. Biennale di Venezia Comunita Fiamminga del Belgio, exhibition catalogue 41st Biënnale di Venezia, ed. Commisioner general for the International Cultural Cooperation, 1984
Willy Van den Bussche, José Vermeersch, exhibition catalogue Provincial Museum Constant Permeke, Jabbeke, 1984
Frans Boenders, Dorris U. Kuyken-Schneider, Marnix Neerman, Heinz Spielmann, José Vermeersch, Elsevier, Brussels-Amsterdam, 1985
Armando Castellano, Marnix Neerman, José Vermeersch, exhibition catalogue Museo de Arte Moderno Mexico D.F., ed. Marnix Neerman Art Productions Belgium, 1987
Marnix Neerman, Willy Van den Bussche, José Vermeersch, exhibition catalogue Provincial Museum of Modern Art Ostend, ed. Ministry of the Flemish Community and Marnix Neerman Art Gallery Bruges, 1988
Marc Le Bot, Marnix Neerman, José Vermeersch, exhibition catalogue Orangerie de Bagatelle Paris, ed. Marnix Neerman Art Gallery Bruges, 1988
Lorenz Eitner, José Vermeersch, exhibition catalogue Stanford University Museum of Art California. ed. Marnix Neerman Art Gallery Bruges, 1989
Lucien Rama, José Vermeersch. Mes Peintures, exhibition catalogue Musée des Beaux-Arts Mons, 1992
Ludo Bekkers, Frans De Boodt, Jacques De Haes, Jozef Deleu, Wivina Demeester, José Vermeersch in alle staten, exhibition catalogue BBL & Elzenveld Antwerp and Het Spijker Hoogstraten, 1995
Rik Vermeersch, Pol Vermeersch, Vera Vermeersch, José Vermeersch 1935-1995, exhibition book O.C. De Neerbeek, Bissegem, 1995
Agnes Grondman, Pierre-Marc Levergeois, José Vermeersch Beeldhouwer, exhibition booklet Het Nijenhuis Museum Heino/Wijhe, Museum Hannema-de Stuers Fundatie Heino/Wijhe (NL), 1995
Nicole Delissen, Micky Piller, William Rothuizen, Wily Van den Bussche, José Vermeersch. Beelhouwer, Wilma International n.v., Museum Hanneman de Stuers-Fundatie Heino/Wijhe, Erven José Vermeersch, c/o Beeldrecht Amsterdam, ed. Thijs Uijthoven European Library Zaltbommel (NL), 1999
Rik Sauwen, Willy Van den Bussche, José Vermeersch, Schilderijen, beelden, tekeningen, Openbaar Kunstbezit in Vlaanderen, 2001
Willy Van den Bussche, Rik Sauwen, José Vermeersch (retrospective) exhibition catalogue Provincial Museum of Modern Art Ostend, ed. PMMK 2001

Exhibitions

1969	Antwerp (B), Galerie Campo
1970	Schelderode (B), Kunstforum in association with Galerie Veranneman
1971	Warsaw (PL) Bruges (B), Second Triennale Faënz (I), International Ceramics Competition Luminy-Marseille (F), Ecole d’Art et d’Architecture
1973	nominated for the Venice Biennale by the Flemish Ministry of Culture, which was cancelled afterwards
1974	Amsterdam (NL), Galerie Lieve Hemel The Hague (NL), Galerie Nova Spectra
1975	Lille (F), Musée des Beaux-Arts
1976	Paris (F), Galerie Andrée Roussard
1982	Cologne (D), Belgisches Haus Amsterdam (NL), Garden Hotel Gallery
1983	Hamburg (D), Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Rotterdam (NL), Museum Boymans-van Beuningen Hasselt (B), Cultureel Centrum Deurle (B), Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens
1984	Venice (I), main exhibitor at the Flemish Pavilion during the 41st Biennale Jabbeke (B), Provincial Museum Constant Permeke Amsterdam (NL), Art Manifestation Nieuwe Kerk Basel (CH), Kunstmesse
1986	Haarlem (NL), Frans Halsmuseum Bruges (B), Galerie Marnix Neerman
1987	Mexico-City (MEX), Museo de Arte Moderne Ostend (B), Provincial Museum of Modern Art
1988	Paris (F), Orangerie de Bagatelle Bremen (D), Gerhard Marcks-Haus
1989	San Francisco (USA), Stanford University Museum of Art San Francisco (USA), C. Campbell Gallery
1992	Watou (B), Art and Poetry Manifestation Amsterdam (NL), Flemish Cultural Centre De Brakke Grond Mons (B), Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Mons Bruges (B), Galerie Marnix Neerman
1993	Kruishoutem (B), Stichting Veranneman Kortrijk (B), Halls, family forum
1994	Paris (F), Galerie Pierre-Marie Vitoux
1995	Antwerp and Hoogstraten (B), BBL, Elzenveld and Het Spijker Bissegem (B), Meeting Place De Neerbeek
1996	Düsseldorf (D), Galerie Beethovenstrasse Hoorn (NL), Westfries Museum
1997	Kruishoutem (B), Stichting Veranneman Mulhouse (F), Maison de la Céramique Hasselt (B), IAC Kunstgang
1999	Heino/Wijhe (NL), Hannema-de Stuers Fundatie
2000	Bruges (B), Belfort
2001	Ostend (B), Provincial Museum of Modern Art

Acquisitions

Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Aachen(D)
Middelheim Open Air Museum of Sculpture, Antwerp (B)
Cinquantenaire Museum, Brussels (B)
Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg (D)
Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem (NL)
Provincial Museum of Modern Art, Ostend (B)
The Council House from Samuel C.Johnson, Wisconsin (USA)
Ministery of the Flemish Community, Brussels (B)
Flemish Community-Center, Osaka (J)
Municipal Museum, Kortrijk (B)
City of Bruges (B)
Ville de Paris (FR)
City of Hasselt (B)
Artesia Bank Collection, Ostheriethhuis, Antwerp (B)
Aslk-group, Brussels (B)
Gemeentekrediet, Brussels (B)
Collection of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, Brussels(B)
Municipality of Lendelede (B)
Wilma Antwerp (B)

and other private and public collections world-wide

Book

José Vermeersch - The bronzes A monograph on the bronzes of José Vermeersch, one of the most important Flemisch sculpturers of the post-war period. A large-format photobook containing original detailed photography of his bronze sculptures. Published in English. The book can be ordered by printing and sending the reply card linked below. Print reply card.

Dealer

Official Dealer José Vermeersch: Art Gallery Marnix Neerman Kloosterstraat 13 2000 Antwerpen (Belgium) http://www.kunstgalerij-neerman.be