Artist Nils Verkaeren created a monumental live painting for restaurant NEBO (*)
Nils Verkearen X restaurant NEBO
The sky above restaurant NEBO (*) by Nils Verkaeren - credits Soul Van Schaik 
The sky above restaurant NEBO (*) by Nils Verkaeren 
Artist Nils Verkaeren & chef Dimitri de Koninck
Dish by chef Dimitri de Koninck of restaurant NEBO in Antwerp
Signature tuna dish from restaurant NEBO - credits Kris Vlegels
A great way to introduce new art into your restaurant! Yesterday, Monday, September 15, chef Dimitri De Koninck and artist Nils Verkaeren invited the public to the Panamarenkoplein in Antwerp, right in front of restaurant NEBO (*), for a unique open-air performance. The Belgian painter Verkaeren, recently back from exhibitions in Mexico and Colombia, spent the entire day working on a monumental seven-meter artwork inspired by the sky above the square. Once completed, the canvas was ceremoniously brought inside and now has a permanent place in the restaurant’s private dining room.
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The sky above restaurant NEBO (*) now brought indoors
The name NEBO literally means ‘sky’ or ‘air’, a poetic starting point connecting both the restaurant and Verkaeren’s work. In a single day, the painter captured the ever-changing rhythm of clouds, light, and atmosphere. “The sky does not lie. What I paint is what exists, but it changes constantly. What I capture is already gone the moment it appears on the canvas,” says Nils Verkaeren.
The entire performance was open to the public. Visitors could drop by from sunrise to sunset to watch the artwork take shape. At seven meters long, this is his largest painting to date and serves as a permanent window to the outside—a tribute to the square and the restaurant’s name.
About restaurant NEBO (*)
Since its reopening in 2024, NEBO (*) has combined culinary precision with a refined interior. Chef Dimitri De Koninck serves a ten-course tasting menu in a space that radiates warmth, luxury, and understated elegance. The addition of a monumental artwork in the private dining room fits perfectly into this concept.
About artist Nils Verkaeren
Nils Verkaeren (1980) works with light, color, and slowness, at the intersection of abstraction and perception. His work is characterized by layered brushwork and atmospheric depth and is regularly presented on a large scale, often site-specific.
More inspiration from Antwerp can be found here.
Website: Restaurant NEBO
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