Martijn Petrus
Multidisciplinary artist
martynpetrus@gmail.com
I work across different media such as sculpture, video, image, assemblage, sometimes including found objects, text and installation. I'm an enthousiast of using various techniques, for example 3D-modeling, growing mycelium and 3D-printing, as I'm interested in the dialogue between digital and manual production. This year I am exploring to record and create sound and writing more fiction. In my research I am looking at fields like biology, palaeontology, queer-ecologies, interspecies kinship, literary fiction and video games. This I combine with the subjective experience of the world around me and my imagination.
I’m inspired by the Romantic notion of the Gesamtkunstwerk, to create a symbiotic practice, where the different works live and play together to complement and complete each other within the worlding of my practice.
Curriculum Vitae
2025 - 2026: Micro-credential “Environmental Humanities”, Universiteit Gent. Ghent, Belgium.
2016 - 2017: Master Fine Arts, graduated with high distinction. KASK School of Arts, Ghent, Belgium.
2015 - 2016: Erasmus programma, EAA (Estonian Art Academy). Tallinn, Estonia.
2013 - 2016: Bachelor Fine Arts, graduated with distinction. KASK School of Arts, Ghent, Belgium.
2008 - 2012: Bachelor Fotografie. Fotoacademie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2025 - Cul-de-Sac, group show in two parts, in collaboration with Level Five and Islands of contemporary art. Alte Tankstelle Deutz, Cologne, Germany.
2024 - Biennale Het Voorstel #3, group show, CC de Steiger/stadsmuseum, Menen, Belgium.
2023 - The urge to eat poisonous berries, two week residency with QueerAnarchive and solo exhibition during Qfest, Galerija Kluba Kocka, Split, Croatia.
2023 - Echoes, duo presentation, Moonens Foundation, Brussels, Belgium.
2023 - Sometimes I look into a tube and there’s nothing in it, duo presentation, 37PK, Haarlem, The Netherlands.
2022 - Three months residency at 37PK, Haarlem, The Netherlands.
2022 - Elixir SPF, duo presentation, Sparewheel, Brussels, Belgium.
2022 - Family Business IV, Kinder Warteraum. Group show, Praxis für Kinder und Jugendliche, Paderborn, Germany.
2022 - CENDAR, Smoking Inside. Group show by Galerie Zotto, KBK, Brussels, Belgium.
2021 - Family Business III, Perfume Counter. Group show, de Gaper drugstore, Zandvoort, The Netherlands.
2021 - H Y P E R M A R K E T, group show, Kunsthal, Gent, Belgium.
2020 - Lichen, group show, Chaussee de Ninove 84. Brussels, Belgium.
2020 - Waldeinsamkeit. Summer project/residency. Kasteel van Wildenburg, Wingene, Belgium.
2019 – Family Business II, SHOWdROOM. Group exhibition, Paepens NV showroom for sanitary wear, Ninove, Belgium.
2019 - Gnome Garden. Collaboration with Mark Grootes. Bebe space, DOK, Ghent Belgium.
2019 – Family Business I, Salon Piédestal. Group exhibition, Pedicure salon Care Wormerveer, Wormerveer, Netherlands.
2018 - Terminal Purification, duo exhibition, Joseph Stevensstraat 30, Brussels, Belgium.
2017 - Three finger salute, group exhibition, Drongenhofkapel, Ghent, Belgium.
2017 – X.perience an exhibition in space, group exhibition, In de ruimte, Ghent, Belgium.
2017 – Borrowed View, solo exhibition, Glazen Gang, KASK School of Arts, Ghent, Belgium.
2017 – Een kleptomaan neemt de dingen letterlijk. Group exhibition, Zwarte Zaal, KASK School of Arts, Ghent, Belgium.
2016 – Tumult in Ghent. Group exhibition, KERK, Ghent, Belgium.
2016 – False evidence appearing real. Group exhibition, EKKM (Estonian Museum for Contemporary Art), Tallinn, Estonia.
2015 – Breakfast @ R-Kiosk. Group exhibition, Raja Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia.
2014 – Vibrations OFf. Collective exhibition project with artist Honor d’O, Gallery Kristof de Clerq gallery, Ghent, Belgium.
2024 - Artisic research and development grant of Flemish Government.
2022 - Funding for individual artist from the city of Haarlem, The Netherlands.
Professional affiliations
2025 – “Mycelium, growing shapes” workshop on working with fungi with 5th year high school students. KSO Brugge, Brugge, Belgium.
2024 – present: Council members of artist cooperative Level Five, collective decision-making, procedural and structural development, organizational advancement.
2024 – present: Location responsible at Level Five Gabrielle Petit, daily managing of the artists studios and the community.
2024: Design and realization of Level Five project space. In collaboration with artist Mathias Prenen.
2023 – 2024: Galerie Greta Meert. Photographer, reproductions of artwork and books. In addition, creating press releases, co-managing instagram page and website, installation of exhibitions.
2023 – present: Freelance technician, working together with institutions and artists during exhibition build-up, constructing scenography, installing and de-installing artworks. Clients include Kiosk Gent, Kunsthal Extra City, Mendes Wood DM, DROA Community.