The Evolution of a Materialist Style
Born in Delft, the Netherlands, Bram Bogart was the son of a blacksmith. After attending a technical school and training as a decorator, he worked for an advertising concern in Rotterdam. Following World War Two, he moved to Paris, France, where he was among the founders of Art Informel. His early work involved experimentation with cubism and figurative drawing, focusing on subjects such as self-portraits, still life, and flowers. By the 1950s, his approach shifted toward the use of impasto, utilizing thick layers of colorful paint applied boldly to create an expressionist style that grew increasingly abstract.
Materiality and Later Works
In 1961, Bogart relocated to Belgium with his wife, Leni, eventually becoming a Belgian citizen in 1969. During this period, he began experimenting with a three-dimensional medium. This technique involved applying a mixture of raw pigment, powdered chalk, varnish, siccative, and mortar onto large, heavy wooden backing structures. His career included frequent exhibitions in Ghent and Antwerp, and he represented Belgium at the Venice Biennale in 1971. In 2011, a celebration of his 90th birthday featured his Monochrome paintings at the Bernard Jacobson Gallery in London. He died in Sint-Truiden, Belgium.
