GERARD HOLMENS
Master of the "Taille directe"

Gerard Holmens (Ostend, Belgium 1934 - Moulins (FR)  1995)

Tribute to belgian painter Leon Spilliaert, Ostend, Belgium

Nude
​Collection Group 2 Gallery

A series of monumental marble sculptures by Holmens embellish the Jeddah Corniche.

Holmens at work on one of the sculptures for the Jeddah series, 1977

Holmens presenting one of his sculptures at the beach in Ostend.

​Large marble sculpture at the Pope Adrian VI college in Louvain, Belgium

​​"Sculpture" ​1970, portuguese marble, 200 x 70,5 cm
Part of a series titled "Silence" after the artist visited Ireland
Available for sale
​For enquiries call 0032 2 539.23.09 or mail [email protected] 

"Totem" Carrare marble sculpture, 150 x 24 cm
​SOLD

Rhinoceros, marble sculpture at the Middelheim Park in Antwerp

Belgian sculptor Gerard Holmens (1934-1995) is celebrated for his masterful ability to breathe life, movement, and a profound sense of organic harmony into rigid materials. Working primarily with stone, marble, and wood during his early days, Holmens developed a distinctive visual language where abstract forms seem to dialogue constantly with the space surrounding them. His sculptures, characterized by fluid curves, sensual volumes, and a meticulous respect for the raw essence of his chosen medium, position him as a key figure in post-war Belgian abstraction. The Jeddah Sculptures: A Monumental Legacy Among the most prestigious milestones of Gerard Holmens’ international career is his participation in the monumental Jeddah Beautification Project during the late 1970s and 1980s. Commissioned during a golden age of urban and artistic patronage in Saudi Arabia, Holmens was invited to create large-scale open-air sculptures for the city of Jeddah. Alongside other titans of modern art—such as Henry Moore, Joan Miró, Alexander Calder, and Jean Arp—Holmens contributed to turning the city’s Corniche and public squares into one of the largest open-air museums in the world. For this ambitious series, Holmens scaled up his organic geometry to match the vast desert light and maritime backdrop of the Red Sea. His Jeddah sculptures stand as a testament to his genius for monumental equilibrium: heavy, permanent stone and bronze shapes that nevertheless appear weightless, dynamic, and perfectly integrated into the modern architectural landscape. Artistic Philosophy "Sculpture is not just about occupying space; it is about creating a dialogue between the material, the light, and the viewer." Whether creating intimate gallery pieces or imposing public monuments, Holmens maintained a deeply tactile relationship with his medium. He believed that the final form already existed within the raw block of marble or stone, waiting to be revealed by the sculptor's hand. Today, his works are highly sought after by collectors who appreciate the convergence of mid-century abstract rigor and timeless, organic elegance.

 

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