Johan Van Mullem : This months artist in spotlight

Born in the Congo, a son of flemish diplomats, Johan Van Mullem's early experiences were of travel and international relocation; living in such countries as Sweden, Germany, Tunisia, UK, US, and Belgium (currently living in Brussels) where the artist came into contact with a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, traditions and systems of living. Having such wildly diverse cultural and geographical experiences early in life shaped Van Mullem's mind to see behind what the eye can see and begin a life long exploration into the commonalities of humans and nature - the conscious energy that all life shares, not just humans beings, but all living entities.  His portraits examine the invisible inner territory that impacts the outer human experience, inquisitively exploring the forces underlying physical existence. Van Mullem ventures into a delicate space — how humans portray themselves in culture and attempt to reach behind the veil, painting and giving life to the powerful unseen forces of the universal human experience: the eternal soul. The artist is infinitely more interested in similarities and connections than differences and separations. What makes us alike? What do we all have in common are answers that drive the artist practice. "We all share heartbeats, minds that think, breathing, inspiration, and souls which are connected to nature." Van Mullem’s work can be found in numerous public and private collections internationally, including collections in Brussels, London, New York, Paris, Mexico, Los Angeles and at the Musee d’Ixelles in Belgium. He has most recently exhibited at the Ciurlionis National Art Museum in Lithuania and the Musée d’Art Classique de Mougins in France.