The tree (2024) Painting by Vanessa Van Meerhaeghe

Vanessa Van Meerhaeghe is a contemporary painter and illustrator based in Ronse, Belgium. She studied fashion design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent and had a successful career as both a fashion designer and an illustrator for several Belgian brands. However, a few years ago, Vanessa made the decision to transition into a full-time visual artist. Alongside, she started painting on the side in 2010 when living in Africa, which also explains a sense of color, pattern, and palm trees. While her primary focus is painting, she also takes on commercial and editorial projects. Her work often features portraits influenced by today’s fashion, showcasing her background in fashion design. Vanessa’s artwork has been displayed in various galleries and art events, both Nationally and internationally. In addition to her independent work as a visual artist, Vanessa has collaborated with clients such as Marie Claire magazine, Esquire, Eurostar, and Milk magazine.

My artistic journey is rooted in my background in fashion design, which has greatly influenced my approach to painting and illustration. While elements of fashion, such as colored patterns and detailed clothing, add depth and narrative to my work, it is the characters themselves who truly tell the stories within my paintings.

However, my artistic pursuits extend beyond these initial inspirations into a profound exploration of nature. Nature serves as my muse, providing rich backgrounds and settings that complement the narratives of my characters. Through hiking trips and travels, I immerse myself in the beauty of the natural world, allowing its forms to become stylized in my paintings or transformed into graphic elements. This approach gives my work a distinctive character that combines organic inspiration with a graphic design sensibility.

• Nationality: BELGIUM
• Date of birth : 1974
• Artistic domains: Represented by a Gallery,
• Groups: Contemporary Belgian Artists Artists presented by a gallery