Walter Leblanc (1932 Antwerp, Belgium – 1986 Silly, Belgium) was a pioneering Belgian artist whose work explored torsion, light, and perception. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp under Antoon Marstboom and René De Coninck, and also attended evening classes at the School of Decorative Arts with Roger Avermaete. In 1958, he co-founded the G58 group, a collective of young Belgian artists seeking to challenge the conservative art scene and promote avant-garde practices.
From 1959, Leblanc developed torsion as a central element in his work, creating a “twisting machine” in 1960 that allowed him to produce precise metallic torsions. His early exhibitions include Monochrome Malerei in Leverkusen (1960) and a solo show at the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels (1961). He also curated the exhibition Anti-peinture (Hessenhuis, 1962), highlighting new experimental approaches to painting.
Leblanc actively participated in the ZERO and Nouvelle Tendance movements, taking part in major international exhibitions such as The Responsive Eye (New York, 1965), Weiss auf Weiss (1966), and Serielle Formationen (1967). Throughout his career, he experimented with architectural integrations and public artworks, aiming to bring his vision of movement and light into shared spaces.
He received several awards, including the Young Belgian Art Prize (1964), the Grand Prix Europe de Peinture in Ostend (1966), and the Prix Eugène Baie de Peinture (1969). In 1970, Leblanc represented Belgium at the 35th Venice Biennale, personally selecting the works for his pavilion shortly before the opening.
In the 1980s, he realized his long-anticipated monumental mural for Simonis Metro Station in Brussels, a project completed posthumously. Leblanc died in a car accident in 1986 while on his way to an exhibition opening in Brussels. His legacy remains influential in European post-war avant-garde art, particularly for his innovative exploration of torsion, light, and the perception of space.
For information on available works by the artist, please contact the gallery.