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Yves de Brabander, a visual artist and photographer from Antwerp, Belgium, is renowned for his evocative fashion photography and fine art. Beyond surface aesthetics, he employs the male body as a canvas to convey richer narratives intertwined with themes of religion, notably Christianity, and his personal experiences as an adolescent in the 1990s — an era marked by advocating for gay rights amidst AIDS pandemic protests.
Yves, who graduated cum laude from KdG University, was the permanent photographer of Sensoa, the Flemish expertise center for sexual health, from 2004 to 2009. This role allowed him to delve deeper into the nuanced intersections of sexuality, gay culture and society.
His portfolio defies categorization. It’s a blend of art history, eroticism, and elements borrowed from arthouse cinema. His works have a story to tell, but they don’t spell it out; they invite you to explore and interpret. In his fashion photography, there’s a cinematic quality that’s hard to ignore, hints at his love for the silver screen —but it’s not about recreating film scenes or telling stories through fashion shoots. It’s more elusive, akin to the mystique of French cinema itself.
The theme of censorship in his work is not only reminiscent of his youth, but also reflects the new challenges of censorship in today’s society and social media.
His works, which have been exhibited in prestigious galleries such as Munch Gallery, CASSTL and Instinct, as well as at art fairs such as Art Basel Miami and Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festivals, have captivated audiences worldwide. His photographs have been published in esteemed publications such as “Art+Religion in the 21st Century” and Bruno Gmünder’s “VISIONS - Contemporary Male Photography”.
In spring 2024 he published his first ever monograph, COME CLEAN with the Austrian based Paper Affairs Publishers. Yves presents visual erotic poetry: “Obsessive, fetishistic and unapologetically queer”. In four chapters the viewer witnesses how the male body serves as Yves de Brabander’s canvas. The deliberate act of getting dirty on his handcolored charcoal backdrop becomes a catalyst for acceptance, sexual identity, lust and desire in our ever-changing society.
books
exhibitions
. solo exhibtions
. group exhibtions
publications
. catalogues & books
. published works
. selected press
books
COME CLEAN
Preface and introduction by Slava Mogutin
first edition of 400 copies — APRIL 2024
Published by PAPER AFFAIRS Publishers, Vienna
Printed by Gerin Druck, Austria
exhibitions
solo exhibitions:
2022
Bring the Boys back Home, The Little Black Gallery, London
2018
Geworfenheit, Cedric Jacquemyn Showroom, Paris
2017
Shadows of Liberty, Cedric Jacquemyn Showroom, Paris
2016
Here is no Border only Dust, Cedric Jacquemyn Showroom, Paris
2012
Plains of Native Rites (Video Installation), Cedric Jacquemyn Showroom, Paris
Muted Beliefs, Cedric Jacquemyn Showroom, Paris
2011
Yves de Brabander, Trajector Art Fair by TAUT, Brussels
Video screenings, Berlin Fashion Week Glass Haus, Berlin
2008
Ecce Homo, Galeria Pauza, Krakow
2007
Yves de Brabander (screening), Barinn, Reykjavik
group exhibitions:
2024
Hantrax dolls, curated by Hantrax. MuHKA, Antwerp
Gay Propaganda 2.0, filmprogram curated by Slava Mogutin. Freiluft Kino Kreuzberg
Art Speaks Through Us, Tom of Finland Foundation, Berghain, Berlin
"Come Clean", (Three new books), CASSTL, Antwerp
Carne Sagrada, curated by Slava Mogutin, Manos Amigues, Mexico CIty
2023
Désir, curated by Yves de Brabander & Eric LeRouge, instinct.berlin, Berlin
Gay Propaganda, curated by Slava Mogutin, Freiluft Kino Kreuzberg, Berlin
Tom of Finland Art&Culture Festival 2023, The Knast, Berlin
An AIDS Walkthrough, instinct.berlin, Berlin
BOYS!BOYS!BOYS! at Worldpride, Working Dog Gallery, Sydney
2022
The GUTUG, Gallery Hole, Bentwaters
Gay Propaganda, curated by Slava Mogutin, Kickoff Tom of Finland Festival, London
2020
BOYS!BOYS!BOYS!, The Little Black Gallery, London
2014
Antwerp Art, RA Gallery, Antwerp
2012
Up against it, Munch Gallery, New York
Night, Munch Gallery, New York
Pride, WM Gallery, Antwerp
Saint Sebastian 1530-2011, Edelman Arts Gallery, New York
2011
Saint Sebastian 1530-2011, Edelman Arts @ Art Miami, Miami Beach
CUM, Curated by Stuart Sandford, VZ Gallery, London
To: Japan/Love, New York, Munch Gallery, New York
ENTER #1, Munch Gallery, New York
ASVOFF by Diane Pernet, Musée Pompidou, Paris
2010
INSTANT. Fearless Project, La Petite Mort Gallery, Ottawa
INSTANT. Fearless Project, Robert Goff Gallery, New York
2004
VISIONS: Contemporary Male Photography, Bruno's, Berlin
1998
Dag tegen de homofobie, FWH, Stadsfeestzaal, Antwerpen
publications
catalogues & books:
2023
Désir Zine, instinct.berlin, Berlin
An AIDS Walkthrough, instinct.berlin, Berlin
Boys!Boys!Boys! The Book, edited by Ghislain Pascal, Kehrer Verlag - ISBN 9783969001141
2021
The Ghost of Avant-Garde, edited by Adriana Lacko, Croatia
2015
Art+Religion in the 21st Century, Dr. Aaron Rosen, Thames & Hudson - ISBN 9780500293034
2012
Munch Gallery 2012. Munch Gallery, New York
2011
Munch Gallery 2011. Munch Gallery, New York
2008
Katalog 2010, curated by Karolina Harazim, Galeria Pauza, Krakow
Ecce Homo, Catalogue for Galeria Pauza
2006
VISIONS - Contemporary Male Photography, Bruno Gmuender Verlag - ISBN 3-86187-870-4
published works:
2024
Pornceptual From Yves' latest book Come Clean
FuckingYoung! Come Clean, A Visual Symphony of Self-Discovery
Ecstacy Homosexuality, The Irrepressibles. video clip by Container.Love
Crap Zine #3, edited by Anthony Rawson-Campbell, UK
2023
Kavla Zine #3, curated by Konstantinos Menelaou and Florian Hetz, TheQueerArchive
Mein Schwules Auge #20, edited by Rinaldo Hopf, Konkursbuch - ISBN 9783887699864
Pineapple #8, edited by Ben Sabo, Hungary
Crap Zine #2, edited by Anthony Rawson-Campbell, UK
Pornceptual, edited by Chris Philipps, Germany
2022
Boys!Boys!Boys! #5, collab with TheSkinnyType, edited by Ghislain Pascal, UK
Boys!Boys!Boys! #4, edited by Ghislain Pascal, UK
Pornceptual, Germany
PNPPL, Hungary
2021
PNPPL, Hungary
Pornceptual, Germany
2010
Client Magazine, United Kingdom
Show/Off, Royal Academy of Fine Arts - Fashion Department, Antwerp
Pref Magazine, France
Flesh MenMag, Spain
Homo Neurotic, United States
Yves de Brabander, Ninja Art Magazine, France
2009
YVY Magazine, Italy
Vanity Teen, China
2007
Global Art Exhibit Magazine #1, "Portfolio", United States
Bend over seks #3, Safe sex zine, SENSOA, Belgium
Global Art Exhibit Magazine #2, "Naked Ambition", United States
2006
Bend over seks #2, Safe sex zine, SENSOA, Belgium
2005
Bend over seks #1, Safe sex zine, SENSOA, Belgium
Zizo #69, "Portfolio Yves de Brabander", Belgium
2004
Pijpen, gebruik je hoofd!, Poster campaign, SENSOA, Belgium
selected press:
2024
"YdB: L’Arte della Resistenza e della Rappresentazione Queer", Toh! Magazine
"The Censored Canvas: Queer Art in the Age of Online Censorship", QueerMajority
"Dirty boys Come Clean for photographer Yves de Brabander", Gayety
"Ik zie kunstfotografie als therapie om identiteit te vinden", Gazet van Antwerpen
"Yves de Brabander, La voz humana", by Gustavo Forcada, Belfusto Magazine
"Come Clean Bookreview", PNPPL Mag
2023
"These images are a deep dive into the complexities of sex...", Dazed Digital
2022
Artist of the Month: Yves de Brabander, Boys!Boys!Boys! — link
"Yves de Brabander; Senderos de Gloria", Belfusto Magazine
2021
Yves de Brabander, Facts Magazine #16
My Muse: Cedric Jacquemyn, NVRMIND Paper #13
2011
"Modern Eros: Yves de Brabander", edited Gene Ku Chin, PPaper Fashion, Taiwan
2010
"Picture This!", DNA Magazine, Australia
"Editorial of the month: Anvers Dec '47", Ken Pratt, Other Edition, United Kingdom
"Spotlight: Yves de Brabander", Albert Smith, The Advocate, Los Angeles
"Yves de Brabander Funky Trasy si de vis", RGN Magazine, Romania
2008
Studio Brussel, interview on Ecce Homo with Thomas de Soete, Belgium
"Polen boos om religieuze Homofoto's", Gazet van Antwerpen, Belgium
"Ecce Homo Projekt Zrealizowali", FOTO, Poland
"Wernisaz wystawy Ecce Homo", Fotografuj, Poland
"Ekscentryczne Ecce Homo", MM Krakow, Poland
"Oto Czlowiek projekt Yves de Brabander", Fotopolis, Poland
"Wystawa Fotografii Yves de Brabander", Clubber, Poland
2007
"Les mysterieuses", Pref Magazine, France
"This is a man's world! Yves de Brabander", de FOTOgraaf, Netherlands
2006
"De man van Yves de Brabander", Thijs Demeulemeester, Knack Weekend, Belgium
"Visions contemporary male photography", Maenner Aktuell, Germany
2005
"Man fotografeert man", ELLE, Belgium
2004
"De dromer: Yves de Brabander", Zone03, Belgium
