Willem Cole (1957) is a Belgian artist known for his systematic and minimalist approach to visual poetry. Using nothing but three coloured pencils, Cole builds principles and portraits with precision. The subject lies hidden in numbers: juxtaposed elongated cubes have the same volume as his wife and children, mosaic slats are exactly the height of the artist, two colours represent a cherished friend. Cole creates precise, abstract-looking artworks that derive their essence from mathematical and emotional connections.

Willem Cole (1957, Ghent, BE) studied painting at the Sint Lucas Hogeschool in Ghent, where he was taught by Dan Van Severen. He first became Van Severen’s assistant, and later also Professor of Painting at the same college. In 2002, S.M.A.K. (Ghent, BE) showed a retrospective of his oeuvre. Other solo exhibitions include Galerie Gilles Peyroulet & Cie in Paris, FR (Willem Cole, 1993); Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens in Deurle (Jürgen Albrecht/Willem Cole, 1995); Zwart Huis in Knokke, BE (Colour: Willem Cole in interaction with Huib Hoste, 2006. In 2023, the renowned German retailer Andreas Murkudis presented a duo exhibition in Berlin featuring the Belgian duo Muller Van Severen and Willem Cole. His work is part of various public collections, such as those of M HKA in Antwerp, BE; the Metropolitan Museum of New York, USA; S.M.A.K. in Ghent, BE; and FRAC in Reims, Loire and Paris, FR.