Florian Tomballe

Sep 7

‘Sculptures and Drawings’

07.09.2024 — 06.10.2024

Florian Tomballe, born in 1988, lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium. He is skilled as both a draughtsman and a sculptor, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. After graduating as a sculptor from the Royal Academy of Antwerp, Tomballe developed his skills in figurative art, steadily refining his artistic vision.

His first solo exhibition at PLUS-ONE Gallery, titled ‘Sculptures and Drawings’, features a body of works created over the past few years, many of which are being shown for the first time. Tomballe rarely works from a concrete idea; instead, he uses form and deformation as a starting point for his creations. This can range from busts to full figures, driven by intuition and a responsive approach to the emerging image, without being tied to a predetermined form or content. His sources of inspiration are clear: the archaic world around the Mediterranean, particularly the period of archaic sculpture from 800 to 480 B.C. Using pathos to evoke emotion and drama, Tomballe creates a unique language influenced by the strong formal elements of Modernism.

Tomballe's style combines Synthetic Abstraction, Cubism and elements of the Archaic world, including prominent figures like the Greek Kouros and Kore. He draws inspiration from Braque, Picasso, Permeke, and Flemish Expressionism and Modernism. Next to sculpture, Tomballe found a way to express his visual language in the form of drawing. Using the same material for his sculpture as for the drawing Tomballe creates a 2D image which functions as a sculptural element in the room.

Tomballe's work has evolved from an ancient understanding of the human figure to a refined classical approach. This can be seen in his large full-standing figures and portraits. His sculptures often explore the interaction between organic forms and abstract ideas, encouraging viewers to see familiar shapes in new ways. His careful manipulation of materials results in pieces that are both tactile and visually striking, capturing a sense of movement and fluidity.

His work has gained international recognition through presentations in London, New York, Antwerp, and Spain. Tomballe's pieces are part of collections owned by the LVMH group and notable collectors such as Gordon Sumner (Sting), Peter Marino, Edouard Vermeulen (Natan) and various private collectors from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Norway, the USA, the UAE, and Canada. His work has also been featured in several art magazines, including Akt Magazine, ABSoluut magazine and SABATO.

Recent exhibitions include solo exhibition at Shiras Galería, 2018, Valencia (ES); Group exhibition at Exhibit A, 2019, London (UK); Solo exhibition at Studio23, 2021, Ghent (BE); Solo exhibition at Gert Voorjans, 2021, Antwerp (BE); Art fair: Art on paper with Studio23, 2022, Brussels (BE); Art fair: CAN Art Fair Ibiza with PLUS-ONE Gallery, 2023, Ibiza (ES); Group exhibition at PLUS-ONE Gallery, 2023, Antwerp (BE); Art fair: Art Antwerp with PLUS-ONE Gallery, 2023, Antwerp (BE); Art fair: CAN Art Fair Ibiza with PLUS-ONE Gallery, 2024, Ibiza (ES).

Florian Tomballe (°1988) lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium.
He is skilled as both a draughtsman and a sculptor, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. After graduating as a sculptor from the Royal Academy of Antwerp, Tomballe developed his skills in figurative art, steadily refining his artistic vision.
Tomballe's style combines Synthetic Abstraction, Cubism and elements of the Archaic world, including prominent figures like the Greek Kouros and Kore. He draws inspiration from Braque, Picasso, Permeke, and Flemish Expressionism and Modernism. Next to sculpture, Tomballe found a way to express his visual language in the form of drawing. Using the same material for his sculpture as for the drawing Tomballe creates a 2D image which functions as a sculptural element in the room.
Tomballe's work has evolved from an ancient understanding of the human figure to a refined classical approach. This can be seen in his large full-standing figures and portraits. His sculptures often explore the interaction between organic forms and abstract ideas, encouraging viewers to see familiar shapes in new ways. His careful manipulation of materials results in pieces that are both tactile and visually striking, capturing a sense of movement and fluidity.
His work has gained international recognition through presentations in London, New York, Antwerp, and Spain. Tomballe's pieces are part of collections owned by the LVMH group and notable collectors such as Gordon Sumner (Sting), Peter Marino, Edouard Vermeulen (Natan) and various private collectors from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Norway, the USA, the UAE, and Canada. His work has also been featured in several art magazines, including Akt Magazine, ABSoluut magazine and SABATO.