Floris Felix (1989) won the Van Vlissingen Art Foundation Prize in 2021. Fascinated by the Renaissance, and Michelangelo in particular, Felix spent a month wandering through Italy, where he visited the cities of Venice, Florence, Rome and Palermo.
Part of the Inspiration series, the book featuring his work entitled, Floris Felix in Pagan Heavens, was written by Sophie van der Stap and published by Waanders. Floris’ work was on display at Singer Laren between 29 November and 8 January 2022.
Floris Felix was born and raised in Haarlem. In 2006, he moved to Paris to pursue his career as a fashion illustrator and artist. While in France, he worked with luxury fashion brands such as Viktor & Rolf, Mugler and L’Oréal—as well as emerging designers. Floris Felix’s illustrations have always pushed him to discover and master new techniques.
Techniques used by the artist in his fashion illustrations, are also incorporated into his large pen drawings and oil paintings. Each of these methods of work produce pieces that are direct reflections of his own personal experiences, emotions, growth and energy. They represent different periods in the artist’s life, the places he lived and the people with whom he formed connections. All of this is evident in the materials and dimensions chosen for his paintings. The transition from paper to canvas (and back to paper again) paints a picture of Floris Felix’s physical journey.
Floris Felix: “The transition from working on my illustrations to one of my large paintings can feel like a refuge. It’s easy to get lost in the big crowd and the natural movements. But I also love going back to illustrating and seeing my girls again. These little ladies have really supported me over the years and given me the courage to show my work. It took a little longer to share my oil paintings with the world; they represent a very intimate part of myself.”
Delving into the Renaissance, while meandering under vaulted church domes, past golden mosaics and biblical frescoes and through winding streets during his trip, he finds his inspiration in the classical imagination of heaven, for his own and contemporary interpretation of this.
Fascinated by the Renaissance, and Michelangelo in particular, Felix spent a month wandering through Italy, where he visited the cities of Venice, Florence, Rome and Palermo. Back in the Netherlands, this translated into works wherein the human body served as the starting point. Fueled by thoughts of mosaic church ceilings, ancient palazzos, golden Madonnas, angels, auras and aureoles, God’s eye and Fellini’s memories, these new works also feature an emphasis on color.
Floris Felix was born and raised in Haarlem. In 2006, he moved to Paris to pursue his career as a fashion illustrator and artist. While in France, he worked with luxury fashion brands such as Viktor & Rolf, Mugler and L’Oréal—as well as emerging designers. Floris Felix’s illustrations have always pushed him to discover and master new techniques.
Techniques used by the artist in his fashion illustrations, are also incorporated into his large pen drawings and oil paintings. Each of these methods of work produce pieces that are direct reflections of his own personal experiences, emotions, growth and energy. They represent different periods in the artist’s life, the places he lived and the people with whom he formed connections. All of this is evident in the materials and dimensions chosen for his paintings. The transition from paper to canvas (and back to paper again) paints a picture of Floris Felix’s physical journey.
Floris Felix: “The transition from working on my illustrations to one of my large paintings can feel like a refuge. It’s easy to get lost in the big crowd and the natural movements. But I also love going back to illustrating and seeing my girls again. These little ladies have really supported me over the years and given me the courage to show my work. It took a little longer to share my oil paintings with the world; they represent a very intimate part of myself.”
Delving into the Renaissance, while meandering under vaulted church domes, past golden mosaics and biblical frescoes and through winding streets during his trip, he finds his inspiration in the classical imagination of heaven, for his own and contemporary interpretation of this.
Fascinated by the Renaissance, and Michelangelo in particular, Felix spent a month wandering through Italy, where he visited the cities of Venice, Florence, Rome and Palermo. Back in the Netherlands, this translated into works wherein the human body served as the starting point. Fueled by thoughts of mosaic church ceilings, ancient palazzos, golden Madonnas, angels, auras and aureoles, God’s eye and Fellini’s memories, these new works also feature an emphasis on color.
