Check Out Kevin Douillez’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Douillez

Hi KEVIN, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My passion for painting began at a very young age, at 12 years old. I am originally from Brussels, Belgium, in Europe. I was self-taught, experimenting freely with colors, materials, and techniques. At that time, it was mainly a form of personal expression, a way to channel my emotions and escape. However, painting remained in the background for many years, as a quiet passion that I practiced without truly considering it as a career.

It wasn’t until I was 28 that I felt a deep need to fully return to this passion, but this time with a completely different approach. I made the decision to dedicate myself 100% to painting, putting other activities aside to fully immerse myself in art. This choice was a decisive turning point, almost a career change, but above all, a form of personal fulfillment. Since then, I live painting every day, as both an artistic and spiritual commitment.

Today, I am fortunate to be exhibiting my works in Los Angeles at thenewyard Gallery, located at 1453 Rio Vista Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90023, in the Downtown area. The exhibition will be running until February 2025. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share my work with a new audience and continue evolving my artistic practice.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The path to art has not been linear, but every difficulty has been a precious step. When I decided at 28 to fully dedicate myself to painting, it was a leap into the unknown, an audacious choice in the face of uncertainties. The early steps were filled with doubts, questions about the legitimacy of my work, and my place in the art world. But each obstacle became an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to strengthen my conviction.

I learned to see challenges not as barriers, but as stepping stones that allowed me to rise. Whether it was managing my career or facing creative doubts, these struggles pushed me to dream bigger, to refine my art, and to believe even more deeply in my vision. Today, I look back and see every difficulty as a chance to stay true to my artistic expression and share it with those who, I hope, will find an invitation to dream within it.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Free to experiment, I approach abstract imagination in the form of a purgatory. The contact with material is made through an embrace until exhaustion, aiming to externalize my internal ailments. Projected, burst, and incised, the layers of acrylic paint respond to each other to build a new balance in disorder. Noise, movement, vulnerability, instability, sadness, and anxieties transform through this action into ordered silence. My painting becomes an introspective, emotional journey, with the primary goal of seeking light. The large raw format of my cotton canvases is chosen carefully to capture and welcome the frenetic aggression of the conflict between material and spirit. Using bold shapes and bright colors, I abstractly communicate the themes of nature, otherworldliness, and inner peace that define my artistic vision.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
My exhibition is currently ongoing at The New Yard Gallery, located at 1453 Rio Vista Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90023. If you would like to experience my works in person, simply contact the gallery to arrange your visit. They will be happy to provide all the necessary information and welcome you into this unique space.

The exhibition will be open until February 2025, so feel free to make an appointment and come immerse yourself in my creations. You will have the opportunity to explore the evolution of my work and discuss the themes and inspirations behind it.

For more details, you can reach the gallery by phone or email.
Additionally, you can follow my work on Instagram: @kevindouillez_ to discover my latest creations and artistic updates.
You can also contact me directly at info@kevin-douillez.com.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: kevindouillez_

Image Credits
©KEVINDOUILLEZ