Guillaume Corneille (1922–2010, Liège, Belgium) was one of the founding members of the influential CoBrA movement and a leading figure in post-war European art. Renowned for his vibrant colours, lyrical compositions and recurring motifs of birds, women, cats and nature, Corneille developed a joyful and instantly recognisable visual language that celebrates imagination, freedom and the vitality of life.
Born Guillaume Cornelis van Beverloo in Belgium and raised in the Netherlands, Corneille studied at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam before co-founding the CoBrA movement in 1948 alongside Karel Appel, Constant and Asger Jorn. Rejecting academic traditions, he embraced spontaneous expression and experimentation, drawing inspiration from children's art, mythology, African art and the natural world. Following the dissolution of CoBrA, extensive travels through Africa, Asia and Latin America further enriched his artistic vocabulary and colour palette.
Throughout his career, Corneille exhibited internationally, with major retrospectives in Europe and Japan, and his works entered numerous prestigious museum and private collections worldwide. Beyond painting, he also created sculptures, ceramics, prints and monumental public artworks, confirming his versatility as one of the most significant artists associated with the CoBrA movement.
Today, Guillaume Corneille is celebrated for his unmistakable artistic style and his enduring contribution to post-war European art. His colourful and optimistic works remain highly sought after by collectors and continue to achieve strong results at leading international auctions.