Francois Coorens will have his artwork displayed on walls throughout the Hilton Brussels Grand Place for the coming year. It is a part of a project organised by the hotel chain which allows artists to gain added visibility by showcasing their work.
Coorens has about 43 contemporary artworks of people like Madonna, Lady Gaga, Audrey Hepburn and Billie Eilish displayed until March 2025. The paintings feature a wide and eclectic range of celebrities and personalities, including the hotel heiress Paris Hilton, who regularly stays at the hotel when appearing at the famous annual Tomorrowland festival in Flanders. The exhibition also features a blend of pop culture and Belgian icons like Stromae, Angele, Jacky Ickx, Jean-Claude Van Damme, DVF and JCVD.
The artist, who runs The Cool Art School in Brussels, said he is glad to get the chance to display his works in such a way. Born in Liege but raised in Brussels, his paintings have been featured in numerous solo exhibitions internationally, including in New York. He describes the compositions that most resonate with him as ones that convey a “real letting go”. His striking pieces, many of them now on public display at the hotel, located opposite Brussels’ central train station, are created using acrylics, charcoal and pencils on canvas.
“I often like to ‘work’ with top stars like Paris Hilton so it seems fitting that I have now a collaboration with the global iconic hotel group. It is a good match,” Coorens said at the launch of the “residency” on March 21, which was attended by over 300 people.
Ellen Deboeck, the hotel’s general manager, explained that this is the latest in a series of such art residencies at the hotel. “They have proved very popular with guests and visitors who just like to admire the works. In addition to showcasing a particular artist and his or her work they also, of course, provide added colourful decoration for the hotel itself, ” she said. “This is the third year we have been doing this and the feedback has been very positive.”
It is very important for me to have this opportunity because it gives exposure to international clients.
Francois Coorens
“We are very careful who we work with on this. It is not just about hanging something on the walls which is something anyone can do,” Deboeck added. “For instance, we look for artists who may have some tangible and proven links with their community and that is something that certainly applies to Francois Coorens. That is why we are delighted to have his work here.”
Visitors to the expo will be able to experience the blend of art and taste at the hotel’s Sentro Restaurant which, as other areas of the establishment, also features Coorens’ vivid art, together with Chef Vincent Masson’s innovative dishes. Guests can also enjoy the mix of pop culture and global icons with Masson’s signature dish, “Endive and beef cheek parmentier” while drinks such as the “Negroni Mezcal” cocktail and “Spicy Apple” mocktail can be tasted at the Sentro Bar.
