Peter Engels and Brigitte Bardot: a lifelong dialogue in paint and sculpture
Brigitte Bardot has inspired Peter Engels for decades. The Belgian artist has now created over twenty unique Bardot portraits and several sculptures, each one a tribute to the French icon’s spirit and elegance. Collectors worldwide own these works, turning the series into a quiet global movement.
Inspiration and connection
Belgian contemporary artist Peter Engels first saw Bardot on screen as a teenager and was struck by her independence and natural beauty. That fascination matured into a professional quest to capture not just her face and figure, but especially her character: free, playful, and a little untamed. He often says he feels a personal link to BB and hopes to meet her in person one day.
Technique and atmosphere
All Peter Engels BB paintings are executed with the palette knife. Thick layers of paint create tactile surfaces that catch the light and echo the grain of vintage vibe and old film. Engels works with vintage sepia tones, sun-washed ochres, and muted pastel colors that recall the 1950s and 1960s. This approach gives each portrait a cinematic depth while keeping the energy raw and immediate.
Stories behind the scenes
Many of the paintings emerged during “workations” (as Peter Engels calls his travels in Saint-Tropez, Mauritius, and many other inspirational locations). Viewers can almost feel the Mediterranean sunlight filtering through a straw hat or the warm ocean breeze in a guitar-playing scene. Some works imagine Bardot reading a Hemingway book or posing with her beloved dog. Others explore subtle sensuality such as “Bardot Undressing”, “Paint Me Like One Of Your French Girls” (quote from the movie Titanic), “BB Between The Sheets”, “BB Bathing” or gazing from behind vintage sunglasses without ever slipping into cliché.
Bardot’s personal touch
Brigitte Bardot herself has seen these portraits. She sent Peter Engels handwritten notes in her famously bold script, adding small flower drawings and affectionate words such as “I adore you and your paintings,” signed simply Brigitte Bardot. Those messages have become part of the series’ lore and a testament to the artist’s success in reaching his muse.
Triumphs and losses
Two celebrated canvases Bardot with Straw Hat painted in Saint Tropez and Bardot in Her Classic Car were lost in a major storage fire in April 2021. Their absence has only heightened interest in the remaining works. Most of the art pieces now reside in private collections worldwide. A few are still available. Always unique and one-off.
Sculpture and expansion
Engels has extended the homage into three-dimensional form with large Bardot sculptures in Corten steel and smaller sculptures in aluminium, translating the palette knife energy into clean sculptural lines while keeping the vintage glamour intact.
A living legacy
Each Bardot piece is a stand-alone story: sunlight through woven straw, a soft lip bite, a quiet moment with a loyal dog, and dozens more. Together they form a body of work that is one of the most significant contemporary tributes to Brigitte Bardot. For journalists, collectors, and fans searching for fresh angles on the enduring French icon, Peter Engels’ ongoing series offers rich material: artistic mastery, intimate narratives, and the rare blessing of Bardot herself.
Global Exhibitions of the Brigitte Bardot Collection
Peter Engels’ Brigitte Bardot artworks have travelled widely for international exhibitions. The portraits and sculptures have been shown in Miami, Monaco, Cannes, Mougins, Mégève, London, Brussels, Paris and New York, drawing collectors, journalists and art lovers from around the world. Each city added a different dimension to the series: the glamour of Monaco and Cannes, the artistic heritage of Paris and Brussels, the small richness of Mougins and Mégève, the cutting-edge galleries of London and New York, and the vibrant energy of Miami. These stops have helped the Bardot collection by Peter Engels build a truly global audience and cemented its status as a major contemporary tribute to the legendary actress.
