Belgian painter Celeste Neo's latest paintings explore astronomy through a raw art lens

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About the artist: Originally from Brussels, Belgium, visual artist Celeste Neo (b. 1988) has a painting practice defined by his bold, gestural brushwork and intuitive compositions. Neo created his first work in 2019, and quickly adopted a style inspired by both art brut and abstract expressionism. His creative process was born out of deep introspection following a personal struggle, and in conjunction with a deep fascination with astronomy and Greek mythology. From these sources of inspiration, Neo is able to capture intriguing juxtapositions and relationships between ancient and advanced, extraplanetary and terrestrial civilizations, dreams and reality. Neo’s execution of each painting also enhances the themes she works with, adding a sense of immediacy and emotional depth through their intuitive color palette choices and fast-paced painting process.

Celeste Neo. Courtesy of MAC Fine Art Gallery, Andorra la Vella.

What do you want to know: MAC Art Gallery was founded in 2021 in the Principality of Andorra and is dedicated to supporting and promoting modern and contemporary art. A regular participant in international fairs, shows and exhibitions, the gallery offers a diverse range of historical and contemporary artists across mediums and eras. Currently, the MAC Fine Art Gallery is exhibiting a selection of recent works by emerging artist Celeste Neo, highlighting the artist’s recurring use of mythological and interplanetary themes as well as the distinctive style they have developed. Together, the collection of paintings explores a new mode of abstraction and the interweaving of the subject and the artist’s unique perspective.

Why we love it: The confluence of folk art and abstract expressionist techniques in Neo’s work results in a unique form of abstraction that is marked by the emotional and psychological state of the artist. Additionally, the titles of each work act as starting points from which viewers can then interpret the paintings and extrapolate the main purpose of the painting. In pieces like Electrons around a black hole (2020), or “Electrons Around a Black Hole”, Neo’s preoccupation with astronomy is prominent in both title and composition, exemplified by a swirling void of color in the center. It also illustrates the relationship between opposites, in this case the micro and the macro via subatomic particles and the massive region of spacetime known as black holes. First works as Clown with Bow Tie (2019) show Neo’s experimentation with figuration but with the same emphasis on gesture as his abstractions. The clown wearing a bow tie is both playful and eerie, alluding to psychoanalytic fears through the abstraction of the eyes which lend a nightmarish, yet oddly joyful element through the vivid color palette. The tension between the elements again indicates the artist’s interest in dichotomies and exploring their boundaries through visual means.

See the works presented in the exhibition.