Sebastiaan Van Doninck (born 1979) is a versatile visual artist and illustrator based in Halle, Antwerp, Belgium.
He grew up in a lively foster family on his parents' farm in Gierle, where his creativity offered an outlet in a busy and socially challenging environment. After graduating with honors at Sint Lucas college of Art & Design in Antwerp, he developed a unique style characterized by ink washes, watercolor, and experimental mixed media.
As an illustrator, Van Doninck gained international recognition with his picture books, which have been translated into more than 26 countries and awarded prizes such as the Boekenpauw and the Boon Public Prize (2 times in a row). His work for children's books, such as 'The fantastic flying competition' , with author Tjibbe Veldkamp, displays a rich imagination and a distinctive, playful signature. (published in 2019 by Querido Amsterdam and translated by Tate London)
In addition to illustrations, in recent years, Van Doninck devotes himself more to autonomous work, including oil paintings. In his paintings, he explores themes such as narrative (sur) realism, dreamy landscapes, and human (animal) emotions, often with a poetic slant. His experimental, autonomous practice serves as a breeding ground for paintings, drawings and ceramics, in which he constantly pushes his boundaries.
Exhibitions, such as the solo show ‘Post-What!?’ at Rufus Gallery, Ghent (2025), demonstrate his versatility and depth as a visual artist.
He is currently working on both new picture books and a series of paintings & ceramics for a solo-show by the end of 2017 (Rufus Gallery).
Photo: ©Hanna van Dun
EXPO/events
2026 (upcoming)
19/03 -> 22/03: BADAFF art fair, with Rufus Gallery
14/05 -> 17/05: Muddy Beauties, The State of Matter, A group show around ceramics. For Antwerp Art Weekend, @ Showroom, Sint Lucas Antwerpen. (With Tom Volkaert, Hans Wuyts, Charlotte Dumortier, Rinus Van De Velde, Kasper Devos, Odette Claeys, Tisse Geukens, Tamara Van San, Eros Menz, Benny Van Den Meulengracht-Vranckx & many others!)
13/06 -> 12/07: The short night show, Group show @ Rufus Gallery. A distinct midsummer mix of eighteen artists. Between playfulness and intensity, between daydream and twilight. With Olivier Goethals, Nel Maertens, Pieter Van Eenoge, Victor Verhelst, Coralie Laudelot, Bloeme Van Bon, Arthur Devisscher and many others!
2025
18/10 -> 26/10: ‘playgrounds 2’, a group show, curated by Sam Timmerman. (With Atak, Bert Huyghe, Ellen Pil, Charles Degeyter, Goele Dewanckel, Eliza Pepermans, Eva Vermieren, Carll Cneut, Maarten Inghels, Brecht Vandenbroucke, Joost Swarte, Martha Verschaffel, Charlotte Dumortier & many others!)
24/05 -> 22/06: Solo show ‘Post-What!?’ @ Rufus Gallery, Gent.
GRADUATION
2002
Graduated with great distinction as Master in visual arts (illustration) at Sint Lucas college of Art & Design, Antwerp (Belgium)
01/03 -> 23/03: Group show ‘Playgrounds’ @ Studio Artoo, Antwerp. Curated by Sam Timmerman. (With Arthur Devisscher, Céline Hudréaux, Laurent Impeduglia, Maarten Inghels, Martha Verschaffel, Sarah Yu Zeebroek & many others!)
2024
04/12: Artist Talk with Barbara De Coninck on publication ‘Walking Drawings’ @ De Groene Waterman, Antwerpen.
16/11 -> 03/03: Book release + opening expo ‘Walking Drawings’ (Posture) @ warande Turnhout.
23/10 -> 27/10 : Group show ‘All of us are Rufus’ @ Rufus gallery, Gent (With Eliza Pepermans, Victor Verhelst, Sam Timmerman, Lukas Verstraete, Louise Daneels & many others)
08/06 -> 07/07 : Group show ‘Bang, Blast, Burst’ @ Rufus gallery, Gent. (With Arthur de Visscher, Indré Svirplyté & others)
2022
06/06 -> 12/09 : Solo-Show 'Les Traqueurs' @ Louise Gallery
’Illusoir’, group show @blanc Fixe, Drongen. (With artists Sam Vanallemeersch, Lukas Verstraete, Sabien Clement, Korneel Detailleur, …)
2021
Showroom, Sint Lucas Antwerpen: ‘This is where the magic happens’, Sketchbook Group show. (With William Ludwig Lutgens, Emma Verhulst, Sadrie Alves, Lucien De Roeck,…)
Solo show ‘A cosmonaut, hiding under the sink’, Geert De Weyer Gallery, Antwerpen.
Group Show @Borgerhub ‘Into eternity, the art of giving’, (with Cindy Wright, Boy Erik Stappaerts, Rachel Agnew,…)
2020
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam: part of the exposition ‘Van Thonet tot Dutch Design’ - 125 jaar wonen in het Stedelijk’ (illustrations ‘Monsterlijke Microben’)
Animation (film) and sketchbooks exhibited at ‘Diep in het bos’ for Villa Verbeelding, Hasselt.
Feniksstraat, Kinderbrouwerij Poperinge, Group show, (with Carll Cneut and Kamagurka.)
PRESS (recent Dutch selection)
2025
Review soloshow ‘Post-What!?’ door Frederic De Meyer, Art Couch
De rotzooi achter de glans, interview door Stien Van Kerckhoven voor OKV tijdschrift.
In gesprek met Nicky Aerts en Bart Stouten over ‘Walking drawings’, Pompidou, Klara.
2023
Radio 1: dankwoord na uitreiking publieksprijs De Boon Kind-en jeugdliteratuur.
De standaard, Dubbelinterview met Bart Moeyaert door Katrien Steyaert
2021
Knack Weekend, ‘make peace with your broken pieces’
De Slaapwandelaar, een portret door Veerle Vanden Bosch, De Standaard
2020
AWARDS (picture books)
2024
Winner Audience price De Boon jeugdliteratuur (Kijk dan toch! Belgium)
2023
Shortlist Premio Andersen Award (Italy, with Morris)
Winner Audience price De Boon jeugdliteratuur (Belgium, with Morris)
2021
Nominatie Woutertje Pieterse Prijs, (Nederland, De fantastische vliegwedstrijd)
2020
Boekenpauw 2020 (voorloper van De Boon), De fantastische vliegwedstrijd
2015
Laureaat Picturale Ronse (Kat)
FREELANCE
2012
Anne Kurris: T-Shirt prints
B/W ink drawings and cover/poster image for ‘Living Fashion’, an exposition at the MOMU (Fashion museum), Antwerp
2011
Poster ‘Secret’ for ‘Jeugdboekenweek’ (week of flemish Youth literature)
Collaboration with the Spectra Ensemble for ‘Frankenstein’ with Pieter Embrechts
2009
Nobrow 2, The Jungle edition, curated by Alex Spiro
2007
A-Magazine curated by Véronique Branquinho, illustrations for author Toon Tellegen
RESIDENCE
2022
Art residence @ Vista Alegre, Ilhavo, Portugal.
2016
Writer’s and art residence in Björköby, Sweden, ‘in de sporen van Astrid Lindgren’ in collaboration with Astrid Lindgren’s NAS.
EXCHANGE/LECTURE
2024
Lecture ACAWABLA-BLA-BLA #6 @ academiewaasmunster.
2023
May 22th: Grafixx EXTD. #6.
2014
AALTO university, School of Art, Design and architecture, Helsinki (Workshops and lecture).
2013
Otis college of art & Design, LA (Workshops & lecture).
Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma (Lecture).
2008-NOW
Lecturing illustration & drawing at Sint Lucas School of arts, Antwerp
2019
Zin in Zomer: Live drawings, with author Erwin Mortier, Hasselt.
Performance (live drawings with concert) @ Fondation d’enterprise Martell, Cognac, France.
‘FAKE, die ganze wahrheit’ exposition (several illustrations) for Stapferhaus Museum Lenzburg, (awarded European museum of the year 2020), Zwitserland.
2017
Solo show ‘de archipel van Sebastiaan’ at CC ‘de ververij’, curated by Murmuur Ronse
2016
Museum M: ‘de geluksvogels’, Guided tour in the museum.
Fort Napoleon, Oostende. Exposition ‘de geluksvogels’.
Kunsthal Rotterdam: part of the exposition on ‘Jules Verne’
2015
Museum M: Temporary mural ‘Danse Macabre’ and exposition illustrations ‘Magnus’ for the Vesalius exposition.
2014
’Stormopkomst’, CC De warande Turnhout, (with Sara Fanelli, Ingrid Godon,…)
2013
Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma, Group show and poster image, ‘Cinderella’.
The New York Times building, group show at Flanders House: ‘Flanders inspires, Flanders intrigues’.
2012
Walt Disney concert hall: projections and animations for the concert ‘Frankenstein!’ by composer HK GRUBER, Los Angeles, USA.
’CoffeeKlatch’ Group show @ Tatjana Pieters Gallery, with Piet Raemdonck, Bue The Warrior,…, curated by Magali Elali (the constant now).
2011
Performance for artist Thomas Grodal @ Middelheim Museum, Antwerp (assistance)
2010
Wallpiece 10 ‘Natuur(studie)boek’ @ Sint Lucas Passage: Group show on Sketchbooks. (With Hannelore Van Dijck, Rinus Vande velde, Arpaïs Du Bois, Jan Stremes… Curated by Nikolaas Demoen, Posture editions)
2009
Wallpiece 04 ‘Autoportrait’ @ Sint Lucas Passage: solo show, curated by Nikolaas Demoen (Posture editions)
2006
Palazzo d'Accursio, Bologna, Italy: Group show ‘Coloring outside the lines’.
