Guy Olivier (Maastricht, 1964) is a Dutch artist. As the son of baker it was expected of him to follow his father’s footsteps. He studied to be a cook in Antwerp, but was soon more interested in making artistic hand drawn menu cards. Soon after, he switched his career to the arts.
Vital spontaneity, the esprit of the South, but especially the exuberant enthusiasm, literally splashes from the work of Guy Olivier. In the scenes on his canvases – whether portraits of lascivious-self-conscious young women or of drunken night owls who have suddenly seen the light or the love, of diners out of control or Fellini-esque circus scenes – everywhere you see the theatrical exuberance of celebrated life on canvas and paper.
Guy manages to apply his beautiful color feeling and vitality and burgundy joie de vivre directly to the canvas. In addition, I have always carefully monitored the people who come in. This has to do with their explicit presence, of course, but it is mainly due to the direct appearance of the cloths. Never before have I seen someone who walked past the works without astonishment, admiration or with wide eyes.