Contemporary Artists | Period Artists (A-H) | Period Artists (H-Z)

Jan Van Moor

Champ en Toscane Oil on canvas, 23 x 23 inches

Born in Belgium on August 3, 1950, Jan Van Moor studied at the Brussels Academy, as had the artists who greatly influenced him from previous decades, James Ensor and Rik Wouters.

Brussels, the largest and capital city of Belgium is located on the Seine River and boasts tree-shaded
boulevards, splendid parks, beautiful architecture and some of the finest museums of Europe.  The
Museum of Modern Art features 20th century work – from fauvism to conceptual art.  Among the highlights is the extensive collection of works by Impressionist sculptor and painter Rik Wouters (1882-1916). Van Moor’s style reflects the joy and luminosity of the city. His paintings have Cezanne-like warmth; Cézanne being another great influence on the young Van Moor.

Living in Brussels, Van Moor walks in the footsteps of Belgium’s master painters, many of whom are buried in the Ixelles Cemetery.  The Ixelles Cemetery is home to Anna Bloch (1848–1936), a painter in her own right but her major claim to fame is that she is the only person who bought a painting from  Vincent van Gogh during his lifetime – “Les Vignes Rouge”.

Jan is one of Belgium’s most prominent contemporary artists whose work was commissioned for the Brussels Metro Stations.  His contribution is a large mural.  There are other designs in sculpture, mosaic and tile.  With the price of a metro ticket, one can travel around Brussels, see these works and gain a good conception of the modern Belgian artists.

From 1998 to 2002, Van Moor taught at the Higher Institute for Fine Arts, in Antwerp, Belgium.  Since that time, he has traveled and spends time in Italy and France.  Traveling and painting en plein air gives Van Moor the freedom to experience color and light outside his studio.  He has a unique sense of color and light and uses them brilliantly. Whether in a sun-drenched field of poppies or the warm glow of a still life, Van Moor’s skill and talents are evident in every painting he paints.