Michel Rutten

I believe that art makes us better people and gives us many ways of reflexion on the world of today, past and future. I am amazed and look every time through the eyes of a child. That makes me an art lover and a big admirer of Pablo Picasso. I enjoy visiting art galleries and take at least 40 different looks at the same work of art.  

Articles by Michel

WTF Art History

The Most Outrageous Stories Behind Damaged Artworks

A few years ago, two Chinese women drove their Mercedes SUV into the Forbidden City in Beijing. That event created quite a controversy. The least you...

Michel Rutten 11 June 2024

Contemporary Art

10 Portrait Paintings in Digital Times

Everyone wants to save and share great moments with friends. That’s why we take loads of pictures with our cameras and especially with our...

Michel Rutten 26 April 2024

Women Artists

Lee Krasner – Artist of Many Faces

For a long time, Lee Krasner’s (1908–1984) art has been overshadowed by that of her husband Jackson Pollock. Difficult to categorize, her work...

Michel Rutten 4 April 2024

Expressionism

David Bowie: From Popstar to Neo-Expressionist Painter

Most people know David Bowie as a pop star and a performer, but did you know he had a secret talent? Not only did he embrace music and performing...

Michel Rutten 8 January 2024

Contemporary Art

Human Machines, Pigs & Gothic Trucks: Wim Delvoye’s Surprising Art

Have you ever seen a pig covered in an oriental carpet, a cement truck with Gothic motifs, or a silver DNA string with crucifixes? These are the...

Michel Rutten 27 November 2023

Surrealism

The Surrealistic World of Dora Maar

The name Dora Maar reminds most people of Pablo Picasso. But apart from being his muse and lover, she was first and foremost an ambitious and...

Michel Rutten 25 August 2023

Contemporary Art

Contemporary Art Made in China

Chinese art is booming. The country has been experiencing a major economic uplift for more than a decade and you can feel that in the art world too.

Michel Rutten 20 April 2023

Art State of Mind

Last Days of Summer in Art

The end of summer is approaching and these last days of sunshine create a kind of melancholic feeling. You would probably like to reflect on the past...

Michel Rutten 31 August 2022

Contemporary Art

Disney Figures in Art That Make You Think Twice

Who doesn’t like Disney characters? They are cute, sweet, and adorable. They also represent an ideal image and simplify our world view.

Michel Rutten 23 May 2022

Contemporary Art

The Landscape Paintings of Maki Na Kamura

My first encounter with Maki Na Kamura‘s art left me perplexed with what exactly the German-based, Japanese artist was intending to show her...

Michel Rutten 12 April 2021