Balloting Committee
Entry into the Masters of Realism Belgium is preceded by a review of the work by a balloting committee consisting of four art experts. In case at least three members have a positive opinion of the submitted works, accession can take place if the Masters of Realism Belgium has an open seat.
The members of the balloting committee have all earned their spurs in the Belgian art world. Below is an overview and brief description
Erik Herminda
Immediately after completing his studies in art history at the University of Amsterdam in 1987, Erik Hermida founded Enterprise & Art.
As director, Erik has initiated and organized many projects of various kinds at the interface of art and business, including exhibitions, symposia, book productions and art fairs such as KunstRAI and Art on Paper Amsterdam.
In addition, Erik Hermida leads a team of professionals responsible for the art collections of many Dutch and foreign clients, including Holland America Line and Cunard cruise ships and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection superyachts.
David Gutiérrez
David was born in Montoro, a small town in Andalusia, in southern Spain. He spent half his life studying various studies: pharmacy and orthopedics in Granada and optometry in Madrid. At the same time, he learned English and Taekwondo and obtained the brown belt. Currently, he works as a pharmacist and optician while developing his passion for art.
He is the founder of The Almenara Collection and The Almenara Art Prize. The Almenara Collection aims to support living artists through various activities and projects.
Offering economic support to artists and a great opportunity to promote their work, The Almenara Art Prize is distinguished by its categories and prizes. Accepted works, finalists and winners continue to be featured on our website and social media. Don’t miss the exhibition of selected works in Córdoba, Spain, and the awards gala
Anita Helmy
Artist, exhibitor, curator, art dealer, art auctions, art education and balloting.
These duties have been part of the more than forty years, during which Anita Helmy has worked in the arts.
For the past nine years, she has worked at Catawiki, where she helps many artists in the artist’s Direct category earn a regular income.
Among these artists, Anita also has a number of realist masters under her belt.
David van der Linden
David van der Linden opened Galerie Bonnard in Nuenen with his partner René Renders in 2017. In recent years, they built up a particularly strong collection with ‘Modern Realism’ as a common thread. Exhibitions are organized with some 100 European artists. In the past 8 years, Bonnard has grown into a gallery that is internationally leading, and where artists like to be seen.
Classical Academy & Imperial Academy of Arts
David completed his five-year studies at the Classical Academy in Groningen, initially not to become an artist but to “understand” how a painting is made. During that period he spent two months in St. Petersburg at “The Imperial Academy of Arts. Painting and drawing from live models (portraits and nudes) was tackled here in a totally different way than we know from the Classical Academy in Groningen or the academies in Italy.
Independent artist
In addition to his role as a gallery owner, David remains active as an artist himself. His own work consists of free work and commissioned work. It hangs with clients internationally and has been sold through several galleries and art fairs.
Masters of Realism
“The idea is good and an initiative like this to bring the art world together and map quality is of course to be welcomed. It is then easy to criticize but it is better to see how you can contribute something that turns the criticism into something positive. I hope that by taking responsibility for balloting together with others, I can contribute to a higher quality of this platform. I find it an honorable task and am proud that we are a measure of high quality with our gallery. I hope in this way to be able to contribute to an international platform where not taste but quality is the common thread of composition.”
