A creation of a Dominican mother and a Belgian father, that's me, Michael Peetermans, born on August 6, 1987 in Leuven, Belgium. Shortly after my birth, we (my mother, father, brother, and I) moved to Paris where we lived for 8 years.

From a young age, I've had a great interest in beautiful cars, fashion models, and music. An immense love and passion for the artistic, the unique, and the exclusive...

In school, I pursued three years of science; I wanted to become a car designer. During classes, I was always distracted, I have a lot of imagination, and I was constantly sketching. The sketches were very diverse; my idea as a car designer evolved into designs. "I want to present my design to the world and make an impact."

At the age of sixteen, I left the scientific path and opted for design, printing, and typesetting. The design teachers shared their passion, fueling my motivation even further. The world opened up for me, and I embraced the adrenaline and enthusiasm for the profession, resulting in very good outcomes. Eighteen years later, I still think about them weekly because I am infinitely grateful to them.

In 2013, I became a professional artist. I found success with my art series René Casso and the artistic mussels. I draw inspiration from daily life, glamorous places like Monaco, and from music.

René Casso came to life in my mind in Cagnes-sur-Mèr: I asked myself, "What if Picasso were a Belgian artist?" Creativity flowed freely. The recognizable bust of René Magritte with an inverted hat from which I share my personal story with the audience. The story is painted in a certain balance, inspired by Picasso's cubism. Hence the name 'René Casso'.

'Monsieur Moule'. That's what they call me in Paris and Monaco, or the Mussel Man in Flanders. Mussels are one of my favorite dishes; they hold nostalgia for me; mussels always mean celebration! These artworks reflect what I have experienced over the years: the joy of life, positivity, sex, rock'n roll, and humor. These artworks are infinitely enjoyable to look at and bring happiness. They are my most exclusive artworks but also the most intense to work on.

Life as an artist is unique, tough, and yet very enjoyable, a storm of emotions... As long as I can enjoy it, it's okay.

Until we meet again!

Michael