Helene Appel’s paintings invite us to look at everyday things with fresh eyes. With remarkable precision and a sensitive touch, she paints objects we often overlook: a piece of cloth, a puddle of water, fish bones, dust
or a papwr envelope. Each subject is shown at life-size – just as we might encounter it in the real world. At
first glance, her work may seem realistic, but it quickly reveals itself as something deeper: a painterly
meditation on the visible.
Appel approaches each object with a different technique. There’s no formula – every painting is shaped by
the qualities of its subject. The result is a body of work that feels both intensely real and quietly emotional.
She doesn’t glorify the mundane, but she gives it space, presence, and a kind of quiet dignity. Her paintings
invite us to slow down and really look – and maybe even see things differently.
With this unique mix of clarity, restraint, and painterly sensitivity, Helene Appel takes trompe l’oeil to a new,
contemporary level. In May 2025, she will present her first solo exhibition at VAN HORN – a moment that
highlights her distinctive voice in today’s painting landscape.