Matthijs De Block is a multidisciplinary artist whose work delves into the artistic exploration of fundamental scientific research in biotechnology. His innovative approach not only advances his artistic practice but also emphasizes how alternative and disruptive modes of experiencing art can generate meaningful societal impact.

De Block was selected for FORMAT 2019, a residency at Z33 House of Contemporary Art in Hasselt, designed to provide emerging artists with a developmental learning trajectory. During this residency, he explored the relationship between the microbiome and urban environments. Subsequently, during a residency at Waag Society in Amsterdam, he investigated various biohacking techniques, including CRISPR-Cas9, and created installations incorporating artificial intelligence and facial recognition technologies in collaboration with media artist Dries Depoorter.

His first transgenic artwork, titled “The Greater Gut – Happiness Bacteria,” involved genetically modifying E. coli bacteria to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with happiness. This project, developed in collaboration with UGent, was exhibited at Design Museum Gent in April 2022 and gained significant media coverage, including features in De Tijd and on ‘De Afspraak’ on CANVAS. In the summer of 2024, De Block collaborated with Dr. Tom Peeters from the Open Bio Lab Brussels on a new living installation titled “Soft Sedation,” where genetically modified yeast produced the scent geosmin, a compound to which humans are evolutionarily sensitive.

Currently, De Block is engaged in a new project focused on transgenic art in collaboration with a bioethicist from KU Leuven, a genetic scientist from UGent, and the art and science institute GLUON. This project explores symbiosis and communication between bacteria, leading to the creation of two new living biogenetic artworks. Additionally, De Block is investigating the role of genetically modified organisms in the context of bioart and their broader societal implications.

Through his work, Matthijs De Block positions himself as an intermediary between science and the public, using art to provoke discussion around social and societal issues. His recent projects have reached a broad audience, underscoring the potential of art as a catalyst for societal debate. His work has been featured in prominent Belgian media outlets such as De Tijd, De Morgen, Gazet van Antwerpen, and DAMN Magazine.

Projects & Commissions

Light Exhibition September 2025 – CBK Emmen (NL) – 2025
Transgenic artwork for a light exhibition in CBK emmen. The work reflects uses fluorescent bacteria and reflefts on the process of mitosis, the division of cells that leads to life. In collaboration with the Open BioLab in Brussel & Dr. Tom Peeters.

Fungal Sun – January 2025 – Metaforum KU Leuven (BE) – Collaboration with Jan Van Eijgen
A fungal sun created with airborne funghi and the rare species of Peniccilium Van Oranjei

Diluted Forest – Art Festival Watou 2024 (BE)
A genetically modified yeast strain that produces geosmin was used to create an artificial image of a forest. The yeast is grown on yeast medium, inhibited by a stencil. The growth is stopped with a resin finish.

Soft Sedation – Art Festival Watou 2024 (BE)
A living artwork with a genetically modified yeast that produces the scent Geosmin. As human we are evolutionary predisposed to be able to smell geosmin a thousand times better that sharks can smell blood. This work ties us to our evolutionary past and reflects on the identity of the yeast as a model organism in biotechnology. The work is shown in an old beer distillery. In collaboration with the Open BioLab in Brussels (Tom Peeters, Stijn De Graeve, Jolien De Munck),

Research Project – Genetically Modified Art Organism (2023 – 2025)
Within this research project I will create a new body of work on the topics of symbiosis, communication between bacteria and genetic modification. In collaboration with UGent, Ku Leuven and Gluon.

Commissioned – Arts&Science workshop – TransCulturalExchange – 2022
In November 2022, I facilitated a workshop in Boston (US) about the role of art and science in our society and its relation to bio-art. This conversation took place in the presence of international artists and curators.

Commissioned – The Greater Gut – Happiness Bacteria- 2021- 2022
The work ‘The Greater Gut – happiness Bacteria’ focused on the specific topic of bacterial genetic modification as a replacement of the concept of externalised happiness. This form of happiness is an experience that is formed under the influenced of the social and economical ideology of consumerism. The work was shown at Design Museum Ghent and received quite some national media attention.

Commissioned – 100 year Olympic games 1920 – 2020- 2021
In honor of the hundered year Olympic games in Antwerp I was asked to create a public installation. Walking and running are one of the most basic forms of being. To detect this, a security camera was installed and traced the steps of the pedestrians. Invisible lines of progress are visualised, resembling connectivity in the brain.

Z33 House of Contemporary Art, Design & Architecture – FORMAT 2019
I was selected, along with 10 other promising artists/designers, from 130 submissions for the group exhibition Changing Attitudes in 2019. Within this project, I collaborated with a biologist, a scientist from the Netherlands, and a microbiologist from the United States. Micro-biodiversity is researched in relation to materials used in construction like concrete and bricks. As most contemporary building materials are based on the eradication and sterilisation of microorganisms. In response i created different micro contexts where bacteria could live.

Commissioned Dries Depoorter – MU – Back End 2018 – Collab with Dries Depoorter 2018
Within the context of Dries Depoorter’s international practice, I reflected on how new technologies impact our society, specifically facial recognition. This resulted in the installation ‘Face Detected’, which was exhibited at ‘Back End’ in the Mu art-space in Eindhoven. This work investigates the role of technology in relation to a sculptor. The sculptor stops sculpting when the algorithm recognises a face

Workshops, Educational Writing & Research

CRISPR-CAS9 art&science Workshop (NL) – Waag Society April 2024
Together with Tom Peeters I was asked by Waag Society to give a workshop on CRISPR-CAS9 to educate young artists in genetic modification. The topic was linked to an artistic transgenic workshop.

Biosensor art&science Genetic Modification Workshop (NL) – Waag Society May 2024
Together with Tom Peeters I was asked by Waag Society to give a workshop on biosensors to educate young artists in genetic modification, more specifically plasmid based genetic modification. The topic was linked to an artistic transgenic workshop.

Vision Document for a new BioLab (BE), LUCA School of Arts
I was asked by LUCA School of Arts to co-write a visionairy document to build a new Bio-Art and Biodesign Lab at the new campus Park Terbeke in Ghent. Implementation of the BioLab is being discusses for 2025.

Biodesign & Art Module (BE) – LUCA School of Arts / KU Leuven
Together with Fabienne Beernaert and Ingwio D’Hespeel I am coördinating a new biodesign&art module at LUCA School of Arts and KU Leuven. This module gives a comprehensive overview of Bio-Art and Biodesign. It’s multidisciplinary nature gives students the possibility to engage with novel Bio-Art and Biodesign Principles.

PWO Research 2024 – 2026, LUCA School of Arts (Together with Fabienne Beernaert, Sarah Martens)
How can we go from the Anthropocene to the Symbioscene? Which design and art methods can be used to change our mindset and create the right conditions for change?

BioDesignChallenge (US) – LUCA School of Arts, Conference and presentations at MOMA, NY (2023)
The BioDesign Challenge is an education program and competition that is shaping the first generation of biodesigners. The winners will be displayed at MOMA, NY. I was asked by LUCA to coach 8 students and support them in NY.

Art&Science Workshop (US) – TransCulturalExchange – 2022
In November 2022, I facilitated a workshop in Boston (US) about the role of art and science in our society and its relation to bio-art. This conversation took place in the presence of international artists and curators.

Bioluminisence Living Light ontwerptraject (BE) – LUCA School of Arts, KU Leuven, Odisee – 2019 and 2020 edition
Facilitation of a transdisciplinary art project for the development of an installation around living light. Based on my artistic and design expertise, I was asked to guide young artists in conceptualising and developing an art installation with living light. The bioluminescence expertise was provided by Odisee and Glimps.

Biohacking research (NL) – WAAG Society Amsterdam 2017-18
As part of a 3-month research trajectory, I, along with an international group of artists, explored topics such as the growth of luminescent algae, cultivation of microbes, and the CRISPR-CAS9 technology. This project was in collaboration with Biolab Tokyo, Biolab United States, Université Paris – Center for Research

Media Coverage
DAMN Magazine – The Greater Gut, Happiness Bacteria (2022) (BE)
CANVAS, De Afspraak – Wetenschapskunstenaar maakt geluksbacterie (2022) (BE)
GVA – Volgens Antwerpse wetenschapskunstenaar kunnen onze darmen ons gelukkig maken (2022) (BE)
De Tijd – Geluk gemaakt in een petrischaal (2022) (BE)
De Morgen – Belgische kunstenaar en wetenschapper ontwikkelden samen ‘geluksbacterie’ (2022) (BE)
Gazet Van Antwerpen – Twee nieuwe kunstwerken voor kielpark (2021) (BE)
Het laatste Nieuws – Kunstenaars stellen Olympisch kunstenparcours voor op kiel (2021) (BE)
Het Nieuwsblad – Twee nieuwe kunstwerken voor kielpark (2021) (BE)
Het Laatste Nieuws – Kielpark decor voor Olympisch geinspireerde kunstenwerken (2021) (BE)
Fokus Online Podcast – Meer emphatie in de digitalisering (2020) (BE)
Flanders DC – Desginen met DNA en bouwen met biologie (2019) (BE)
Gazet Van Antwerpen – Twee Nieuwe kunstwerken voor kielpark (2018) (BE)
VRPO Tegenlicht – Dokteren met DNA (2018) (BE)

Selected Awards
Innovative Partnerships Projects, Grant, Agency for Arts Flanders (2022)
Shortlist Design Research, Henry van De Velde Awards Belgium (2022)
Artist Development Grant, Agency for Arts Flanders (2021)