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Johan Creten

"Creten’s work speaks to the storm within us all, as individuals and as a society, and deals with his usual themes: nature, the female form, power, politics and spirituality." Gay Gassmann, T Magazine - New York Times.

Johan Creten is a Belgian sculptor based in Paris, renowned for his innovative work in ceramic and bronze. Originally trained as a painter, Creten soon shifted his focus to three-dimensional media, creating art wherever opportunities arise—from Miami to Mexico, Den Haag to New York. He is recognized as a leading figure in the contemporary revival of ceramics, alongside artists such as Lucio Fontana and Thomas Schütte.

Creten studied at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Ghent, Belgium, the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France, and the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and participated in several prestigious international residencies, including the Bass Museum of Art in Miami, FL, US; Villa Medici in Rome, Italy; Villa Arson in Nice, France; and Alfred University in New York, NY, US.

Throughout his career, Creten has held major solo exhibitions at significant institutions such as 'Portrait of a Lady', Boghossian Foundation, Brussels, Belgium (2022); 'Jouer avec le feu', Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Orléans, Orléans, France (2024); 'Johan Creten: Bestiarium', La Piscine - Musée d'art et d'industrie André Diligent, Roubaix, France (2022); '8 Gods - FIAC On Site', Petit Palais, Paris, France (2017); 'Ex Natura', Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris, France (2008); 'Fire-Works', Dhondt-Dhaenens Museum, Deurle, Belgium (2012); 'The Storm', Musée Middelheim, Sculpture Park, Antwerp, Belgium (2014); 'Contrepoint 2', Louvre, Paris, France (2005); 'L'homme parfait', Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain, Geneva, Switzerland (1998); and 'La Misère Dorée', Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France (1997).

His work is included in prominent public and private collections worldwide, including the Centre Pompidou and the Paris Museum of Modern Art, Paris, France; the Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, FL, US; the Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, Netherlands; the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI, US; several FRAC collections across France; the Olbricht Collection, Berlin/Essen, Germany; the Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA, US; and the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Orléans, France, among others, securing his reputation as a central figure in contemporary sculpture and ceramic practice.

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Selected artworks

  • Johan Creten, Het Paard van Troje n°3, 1992-1993

    Johan Creten Het Paard van Troje n°3, 1992-1993

    Black gazed stoneware
    151 x 64 x 50 cm
    59 1/2 x 25 1/4 x 19 5/8 in

  • Johan Creten, Le Perroquet Bleu, Quand les Chouettes deviennent des Perroquets, 2011-2012

    Johan Creten Le Perroquet Bleu, Quand les Chouettes deviennent des Perroquets, 2011-2012

    Glazed stoneware, platinum luster and color luster
    113 x 51 x 69 cm

  • Johan Creten, Wild Heart Closed, 2018

    Johan Creten Wild Heart Closed, 2018

    Glazed stoneware
    36 x 43 x 20 cm
    14 1/8 x 16 7/8 x 7 7/8 in

  • Johan Creten, La Mamma morta, 2011

    Johan Creten La Mamma morta, 2011

    Bronze
    408 x 88 x 86 cm
    160 5/8 x 34 5/8 x 33 7/8 in

  • Johan Creten, Wargame II - Abstraction NET II, 2013-2016

    Johan Creten Wargame II - Abstraction NET II, 2013-2016

    Melted glasses, crusty glaze, gold luster on glazed stoneware, grog
    83 x 83 x 8,5 cm
    32 5/8 x 32 5/8 x 3 3/8 In

  • Johan Creten, The Mirror, 2015-2016

    Johan Creten The Mirror, 2015-2016

    Glazed stoneware
    163 x 48 x 48 cm
    64 1/8 x 18 7/8 x 18 7/8 inches

  • Johan Creten, Glory - Cariema - Karisma, 2018

    Johan Creten Glory - Cariema - Karisma, 2018

    Glazed Stoneware - Gold luster
    97 x 70 x 20 cm
    38 1/4 x 27 1/2 x 7 7/8 in

  • Johan Creten, Petite Vulve - Tendre et Tenace, 2021

    Johan Creten Petite Vulve - Tendre et Tenace, 2021

    Glazed Stoneware
    38 x 32 x 7 cm
    15 x 12 5/8 x 2 3/4 In

  • Johan Creten, The Egyptian Princesses n°1, 2016-2019

    Johan Creten The Egyptian Princesses n°1, 2016-2019

    Glazed Stoneware
    75 x 90 x 50 cm
    29 1/2 x 35 3/8 x 19 3/4 In

    170 x 90 x 67 cm
    66 7/8 x 35 3/8 x 26 3/8 In
    With the pedestal

  • Johan Creten, Odore di Femmina - Les Trois Trous, 2014

    Johan Creten Odore di Femmina - Les Trois Trous, 2014

    Patinated bronze
    76 x 55 x 33 cm

  • Johan Creten, De Flamingo 1 / Le Flamant 1 / The Flamingo 1, , 2019-2021

    Johan Creten De Flamingo 1 / Le Flamant 1 / The Flamingo 1, , 2019-2021

    Glazed Stoneware
    100 x 112 x 74 cm
    39 1/2 x 44 1/2 x 29 1/2 in

  • Johan Creten, Odore di Femmina - Into the Deep, 2023

    Johan Creten Odore di Femmina - Into the Deep, 2023

    Glazed stoneware

    102 x 75 x 20 cm
    40 x 29 1/2 x 8 in

  • Johan Creten, Point d’Observation - Cirque bas n°6, 2022

    Johan Creten Point d’Observation - Cirque bas n°6, 2022

    Glazed stoneware

    45 x ø 40 cm
    17 1/2 x ø 16 in

Videos

  • Rencontre avec l'artiste Johan Creten à l'abbaye de Beaulieu-en-Rouergue
  • In conversation: Johan Creten & Barbara De Coninck
  • Johan Creten - BESTIARIUM - Musée La Piscine, Roubaix - A film by Gerrit Schreurs
  • Johan Creten - I PECCATI - Villa Medici - Performance live par Rebecca Bianchi
  • Pilane
  • Johan Creten, Expo Rédemption 4K

Gallery exhibitions

Museum exhibitions

Selected press

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