Maarten De Ceulaer
Maarten De Ceulaer (1983, Belgium) first studied Interior Design at the Sint-Lukas Hogeschool in Brussels. Attracted by conceptual and artistic design, he continued his studies at the Design Academy Eindhoven. A strong passion for travelling inspired his graduation project ‘A Pile of Suitcases’, which was immediately picked up by Nina Yashar, the founder of gallery Nilufar.
Maarten is known for the highly evocative, poetic and playful touch he gives his objects. He uses his work to tell stories, to stir people’s emotions, to inspire their imagination and to make them wonder. He continuously explores new materials and investigates in production techniques and crafts. The emotional aspect of objects is equally important as the functional, and he has remarkable attention for detail. He likes to use materials in unconventional ways, and his objects never cease to surprise.
"With every project I do, I try to construct a new universe, which I can keep exploring through different variations and iterations. I like the fact that each of these universes look different from one another and I am trying to avoid an overal style or esthetic, as it would limit my possibilities."
He has won several awards, among which the Belgian Young Designer award in 2007 and the Henry Van De Velde award for Young Talent 2013, and in 2012 Fendi and Design Miami commissioned him to do an installation in Miami. Besides Gallery Nilufar, he also worked with Victor Hunt Gallery in Brussels, Galerie Du Passage in Paris, and companies such as CC Tapis, Modular, Budri and Deknudt Mirrors. His work is held in private and public collections, and has been exhibited in museums, festivals, biennials and fairs worldwide.
