Jeroen Migneaux is a collage artist from Gent, Belgium and he is known for his intricate and expressive works. His art combines meticulous fragments of imagery, textures, and colours to create pieces that are both visually compelling and thought-provoking in their craftsmanship.

01. When and how did you first get into collage?

I’m a self-employed graphic designer so I spend quite a lot of time in front of a computer screen. In 2019, during covid, I felt the need to create more with my hands, so I started experimenting with different materials. One of my favourite graphic designers is A.M. Cassandre, who used geometry and shadows to create the illusion of space. At first I experimented with his technique of airbrushing to create geometric compositions using shadows and depth. Later on I realised I could just use the shadows of layered paper to create that same depth, and that’s how I rolled into collage.

02. How would you describe your approach to collage and your specific style?

I use a lot of grids as a graphic designer, to create my compositions. You can see this in my collages as well. I build layer upon layer to create a grid of lines, shadows and depth. I need this kind of framework to create my compositions, otherwise the possibilities are endless and somehow I can’t handle that kind of freedom. Lately I’ve been experimenting with using a grid in front of my collages, using panels of plexiglass to distort the lines of the collage itself. I would like to continue to experiment with different techniques and materials, to see what else I can do with the use grid systems.

03. What would be your artistic statement in terms of what you’re seeking to achieve in your work?

My mind and ideas are always all over the place. I think the use of a grid in my work reflects that a bit. I need a framework to work in, to focus my thoughts somewhere in between some boundaries. Basically, I think I’’m just trying to express my thoughts in an abstract way.

04. What do you want the viewer to get from your work?

I see my work as being ambiguous and I don’t it want to be “read” in some kind of way. There is not a big idea or concept behind each individual work, but I think or hope there is definitely some overarching style. That’s also the reason why I don’t give my works a title. The viewer can interpret my work any way they want to.

05. Who or what are your biggest influences and why?

My biggest influences are mainly graphic designers. AM Cassandre is probably my favourite artist. The compositions in his art deco posters are truly pieces of art. Josef Müller-Brockmann is another artist I admire. He was a leading practitioner and theorist of the Swiss Style. His work looks very simple, but every design is so very well composed using carefully balanced grids. Other influences are Lucien De Roeck, Karel Martens and Wim Crouwel. You should definitely google them!

06. What ambitions do you have for your art - are there directions you’d like to move in?

My main ambition is to continue to experiment with different materials and find new directions which give me joy. Currently I’m thinking about using the airbrush technique in my collages or using projections on layered grids. All the fun is in experimenting.

07. What do you use as your materials and where do you source them from?

Because of my profession I’ve assembled a lot of graphic papers during the years. For example, I use a lot of transparent protective papers from letraset sheets and old graph papers. I also look for old books in second hand markets, to find beautiful worn end sheets that I can use. I never use photos or images in my works. Only coloured papers or blank sheets.