On their journey, a bearded man with a staff and a lion make their way through an undulating landscape, which is suggested by a few dynamic pencil lines. Above the pair, the words De Leeuwenherder (The Lion Shepherd) are written. This is one of the many mythical figures that appear in Philippe Vandenberg’s work from the second half of the 1990s. By introducing figures from art history, literature, and the Bible, Vandenberg critiques mankind’s perpetual state of greed, violence, oppression, and abuse. The alternative he proposes is mobility. In his art, both emotional and intellectual movement, as well as social and political mobility, are symbolised by The Lion Shepherd and the many nomads wandering throughout his works. Perpetually in motion, they move on, just as the painter does, “in line with the motion of reality”.

Philippe Vandenberg (1952–2009) was known for his drawings and paintings that strongly critique humanity. His works are moving, provocative, and force us to reflect. The central theme of his art is mankind’s struggle with itself and with others, viewed through the lens of cultural, political, and social history. This struggle is often presented as critical, sometimes compassionate, but always rendered in rich colour and with a touch of humour.

Since the founding of the Philippe Vandenberg Foundation in 2009, his work has been discovered worldwide. His art has been shown in solo exhibitions in Hamburg, New York, Paris, London, and Seoul, among other cities. In 2020, the first institutional exhibition in Belgium dedicated to Vandenberg since his death was held at BOZAR under the title Philippe Vandenberg. Molenbeek.

The Philippe Vandenberg Foundation generously preserves the legacy of Philippe Vandenberg, ensuring it remains mobile. The Foundation operates both nationally and internationally with three primary objectives: to manage the artist’s estate and studio, to facilitate research into his oeuvre, and to make his work more accessible through dialogue with artists, researchers, curators, and the public. Throughout the year, they offer visits to his studio in Molenbeek.