Erwin Peeters

Born and raised in Antwerp, Belgium in 1964, he became fascinated by the beauty and behavior of animals while working as a keeper at the Antwerp Zoo. Daily contact with animals gave him the opportunity to observe their movements and behaviors up close. Twenty years later, he remained passionate about sculpting and became a world-renowned animal sculptor.

His bronze sculptures are characterized by their ability to reveal the "soul" of animals. Erwin Peeters specializes in realistic animal sculptures, capturing their emotions in moments of conflict, rest, and play like snapshots. His diverse and exciting works reflect all facets of nature: brutality, ruthlessness, desolation, and vitality.

In terms of pure art, Erwin Peeters inherited the achievements of 20th-century sculptors such as Ozip Zadekin (1890-1967) and Henry Moore (1898-1986), breaking away from the form of monolithic structures and creating hollow and open torsos. He sculpted the hollow bodies of animals using bronze, creating cavities in the outer layer of the body to allow light to penetrate and create chiaroscuro. His sculptural style is rugged and tactile.

Erwin Peeters remains passionate about upholding the tradition of European wildlife art. His interpretation of 19th-century Romanticism has also shifted to contemporary art, showcasing a concise and powerful sculptural style. His remarkable insight into animals stems from his seven years as a zookeeper. His favorite subjects include gorillas, rams, predators, horses, and eagles—common creatures imbued with a sense of mystery. Close-ups of animals often add a depth of thought to his art, imbuing their instinctive nature with anthropomorphic emotional expression.