Gallivant People: Sandra Keutgens
"I don't like Abstract Art "
Meet Sandra Keutgens, a Brussels based abstract expressionist painter. When we first met I introduced myself by awkwardly confessing, "I don’t like abstract art." After an awkward pause, I added, “But I like this.”
Sandra was patient, the kind of patience shared between two people who don’t speak each other’s language fluently—allowing space for pauses. After apologising for our deficiencies I added "It’s beautiful" which didn’t fully express how much I appreciated her work.
Perhaps what I mean to say was that unlike traditional abstract art, which doesn't move me, her piece do—much like the works of Gauguin, with whom I'm obsessed. His attempt to capture the colours and pigmentation of the island people he became enamoured with resonates with me. The colours in this piece convey the essence of a scene, whether natural or otherwise, more powerfully than a realistic depiction could. It evokes a whirlwind of essential emotions, creating a world beyond mere representation.
I found the work wild and calming at the same time. It first appeared abstract, but upon a closer look, the colours revealed a dynamic intensity that felt natural, almost organic, and soon, subtle forms began to emerge. Her paintings create powerful conversations between colours—vibrant contrasts and natural brushstrokes that embalm her pieces with a living, dynamic quality. I hope to articulate myself better when we meet again, hopefully, my asking for permission to write about our encounter put this across.
Curatorial Finesse.
It’s increasingly clear to me that abstract artists are often misunderstood as sophisticated. Recently, I visited a well-known gallery (which I won’t name) and saw an exhibition that left me questioning whether the art existed first only adding the narrative woven around it after. This is something I’ve had to reckon with more times than I’d care to admit—an experience I’ve come to call ‘curatorial finesse.’ It describes the effect of reading a curatorial text so compelling that it excites you to see the show, only to be disappointed by the reality. On one occasion, I found myself wondering if the artist was a Berlin-based minimalist ‘nepo baby’ who had been handed a shot at the art world. The lines of this abstract work were so sparse that I ended up appreciating the quality of the paper more than the actual content.
A Chance Encounter
What I like even more than her art is how I stumbled upon it. Earlier in the week, I passed by her studio and kept noticing the two paintings in the window and wondering about the artist behind them. Then, while wandering around this weekend, I happened upon her exhibition during We Art XL artist trail during which the artist studio was open to the public. Her space felt like a curated extension of her—calm yet vibrant. When I asked about her, I was told, “You’ll know her by her feathered coat.” Anticipating meeting the artist behind these life-sized works I admired, the moment I saw her I somehow opened with, “I don’t like abstract art.”
Perhaps what was so freeing about Sandra’s exhibition, which I stumbled upon while walking past her open studio viewing, was that I wasn’t misled by any prior text. I got explore my curiosity and experience the artist’s space and work as intended, or as close to its pure form as possible. The space was warm and welcoming, yet vibrant.
This exhibition has ended but you can find Sandra’s work on IG. Her paintings are part of multiple collections in Belgium and Germany. Feel free to get in touch with her to visit my artist's studio.