Serneels, Clement (1912 – 1991)
Clement Serneels was the son of a Spanish mother and Flemish father. He went to school in Brussels. In
1936 while at the Academie he won a government scholarship for a one year painting trip to the Congo.
On his return to Brussels he had an exhibition of his Congo paintings, it was a sell-out. He then left once
again to continue working in the Congo.
In 1939 during World War II he settled at Lake Kivu, Congo. Then in 1945 Clement visited South
Africa and stayed for some months in Cape Town. He had sell-out exhibitions in both Cape Town and
Johannesburg. In 1948 he revisited South Africa and had another successful exhibition in Johannesburg.
From there he took his work on an exhibition tour of Mexico and the USA.
From 1951 – 1960 he continued to live at Lake Kivu in the Congo, although continuously making visits
to Europe and holding exhibitions in Brussels and Lisbon. Following upheavals in the Congo, Clement
Serneels moved to Johannesburg in South Africa where is established himself as a successful artist.
- Read Artist CV - CLICK HERE
- Born - 1912, Brussels
Died - 1991
Son of a Spanish mother and a Flemish father (an architect); educated in Brussels. 1936: while at the Academie, won a government scholarship for a one year painting trip to the Congo. On a visit to Brussels held a sell-out exhibition of his Congo paintings. He then left once again to continue working in the Congo.
1939, Cut off from Belgium by world war 2 he settled at Lake Kivu, Congo. In 1945 he visited South Africa and stayed for some months in Cape Town and had sell-out exhibitions in Cape Town and Johannesburg. In 1948 he revisited South Africa and had another suuccessful exhibition in Johannesburg. he then took his work on an exhibition tour of Mexico and the USA. From 1951 - 1960 he continued to live at Lake Kivu, making several visits to Europe and holding exhibitions in Brussels and Lisbon. Following upheavals in the Congo he moved to South Africa and settled in Johannesburg. Established himself as a successful painter of still life and nudes, popular as a portraitist.
Exhibitions :
1937; one man exhibitions in Europe, Congo, USA and South Africa.
1945; first one man exhibition in Cape Town.
1964; Prestige exhibition, Pretoria Art Museum.
1966; Republic Festival Exhibition, Pretoria.
Public Collections :
Pretoria Art Museum; William Humphreys Gallery, Kimberley.
