In the Belgian art scene, some creators stand out for the uniqueness of their world and the sincerity of their approach. This is the case with Éric Schmickrath, an artist originally from Arlon and based in Brussels since 1995, whose collages and assemblages give life to dreamlike, humorous, or melancholic figures, each inhabited by a gaze that captures and questions. Working with feathers, paper, and eggshells, he builds a world that is both surreal and deeply human.
Before expressing himself through materials, he explored other forms of language. For ten years, he hosted programs on RTBF, particularly around world music. He later entered the world of antiquarian books. It wasn’t until 2016 that the urge to create became essential to him—during walks in the Bois de la Cambre, he began collecting feathers, observing their shapes, and imagining characters within them. At the same time, he experimented with the visual possibilities of eggshells and discovered collage as an obvious medium.
His art is nourished by everyday life. A light, a gesture, a found object can spark the beginning of a piece. His studio, which he calls his “cave,” is a creative sanctuary where he slowly assembles elements that are often far removed from one another, yet come together in dialogue. A chair becomes a dog, a feather becomes a lady, a vegetable becomes a face. His characters are carried by expressive eyes that provoke emotion and bring a presence to life. For him, collage is not just about juxtaposing; it reveals a new, unexpected, and sensitive coherence.
His influences range from James Marsh to Folon, including Spilliaert and Jo Delahaut, as well as contemporary artists with whom he enjoys collaborating. He values collective adventures, such as the pop-up event created with Viviane Tâm Laroy and David Duré, which led to a book reflecting their shared creative world. These collective works feed his own practice, as does his exploration of light through the fragile textures of eggshell, or the unpredictable fold of paper.
His work “Résilience,” dedicated to his mother, holds special meaning. Created in just a few hours, it embodies his intuitive, organic approach. Freedom is always his driving force. He states it clearly: “Never compromise on freedom.” A word that lives in his very materials—feather and shell—both naturally linked to the idea of flight.
Éric Schmickrath fully embraces a surrealist sensibility: to create what has not yet been seen, to resist the obvious, and to leave the work open to interpretation. He does not aim to convey a message, but to awaken perception. In a world saturated with images, he defends a slow, contemplative art that takes time to emerge. Some pieces lie dormant for months before completion; others appear in a single burst. What matters most, he says, is that they move him. The rest will follow.
