From Belgium to Birmingham
What’s in a name? Or, more specifically, what’s in the name Naked Art Gallery?
“Naked,” in this case, refers to the naked eye. Owner Véronique Vanblaere wants visitors to view the gallery’s art with the naked eye.
“It’s art for the people: approachable, non-intimidating,” said the Belgium native who has run Naked Art Gallery for the past 18 years.
Inside the gallery’s cozy yellow walls at 3831 Clairmont Ave. in Forest Park are the works of dozens of Alabama-based artists, including Vanblaere.
“We love to find new artists that we know have talent and will become great artists and give them a place to show and sell their art,” she said. “We also focus on functional and wearable art, allowing the people of Birmingham to have a place where they can buy handmade and local creations all year round. This helps money stay in the community, support artists and a small business.”
How did Vanblaere’s path lead her from Europe to the Magic City? As a teenager, she desired to experience different countries and cultures. Like many young people, she felt being an exchange student would help facilitate this dream. When she applied to the program, she indicated Miami was a location that interested her. It was the 1980s, and Miami was in vogue in pop culture because of the TV show “Miami Vice,” she said.
Instead of palm trees and beaches, she was sent to Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama, and it turned out to be a great fit. When she won the green card lottery in 1996, she chose to return to Birmingham. She had friends in the city, and the warm weather and Southern hospitality drew her back.
As for art, it has always been a part of Vanblaere’s life.
“I was born with a pencil in my hand. That is a saying we have in French. It is true,” she said. Two years after she moved back to Birmingham, she founded Naked Art Gallery with her initial business partner, Jennifer Staib. Vanblaere said she originally wanted to make a living from her art, but soon found she spent more time on the gallery.
Her personal style of mixed media art is continually changing, developing with different chapters of life, Vanblaere said.
“I am not the kind to do the same thing over and over,” she said. “My work is consistently evolving. I used to paint a lot, but I also travel extensively, so I adapted to a medium that I can carry with me everywhere. Drawing is ’portable art,’ and it happens to work perfectly with my illustrative style. It still involves mixed media, as I collage and sew these drawings later when I am in the studio.”
Vanblaere’s larger projects include painting the interior of Birmingham’s now-closed “Tau Poco” restaurant, and being the animator, writer and director of the animated film “Bottomless,” an autobiographically-inspired story about a woman who moves from Belgium to the U.S. The film was screened earlier this year at the American Pavilion’s Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival in France.
In addition to hosting exhibits throughout the year, Naked Art Gallery regularly participates in Forest Park’s “Third Friday.” Held the third Friday of each month, the businesses and restaurants of Forest Park stay open until 8 p.m. to let guests enjoy local establishments after hours. Part of the event includes “Tour de Loo,” a competition of art installations in the restrooms of different businesses, including Naked Art Gallery — in keeping with the gallery’s nontraditional approach to art.
Reflecting on the past 18 years of business, Vanblaere said she is very happy with what Naked Art Gallery has achieved thus far. Looking to the future, she expressed interest in working more with local nonprofits.
Editor’s note: This article was produced in partnership with artsBHAM. To learn more about them, visit artsbham.com.