Benoît van Innis (25 May 1960 – 24 February 2024) was a Belgian graphic artist, painter, and cartoonist who signed his work with the name Benoît. Born in Bruges, he was raised in a family of eight children, with his father serving as a juridical advisor and aristocrat while his mother hailed from Namur.
Benoît grew up bilingual, speaking French at home and Dutch at school and on the streets. After completing his studies at Sint-Lucas School in Ghent under the guidance of Dan Van Severen, he graduated in 1984 with the highest distinction.
Van Innis was renowned for his one-panel cartoons, featuring static figures dressed in formal attire, against the backdrop of natural settings. His works were often accompanied by witty and sardonic captions. He drew inspiration from a range of artists, including Jean Bosc, H.M. Bateman, William Steig, Saul Steinberg, and Ronald Searle, as well as filmmakers like Jacques Tati and Luis Buñuel. Van Innis’ illustrations appeared in publications such as De Standaard, De Morgen, Panorama, Knack, Humo, and The New Yorker, where he had been a contributor since 1989. He also designed a bi-weekly cover for Paris Match, alongside Jean-Jacques Sempé.
In addition to his cartooning, van Innis was renowned for his large-scale public artworks, created using ceramic tiles (azulejos). These can be found in various locations, including the Maalbeek metro station in Brussels, the Jan Breydelstadion in Bruges, the Wezenberg swimming pool in Antwerp, the University of Louvain-la-Neuve, and a 160 m² mural on the Grote Markt in Deinze depicting the seasons. In his most unique project, van Innis handcrafted 40,000 ceramic tiles for a care center in Wingene, assembling them into 300 stunning tile curtains. His minimalistic and linear artistic style often depicted humorous and critical perspectives on everyday life.
Van Innis was a proud father of three daughters, one of whom, Alice van Innis, followed in her father’s footsteps and pursued a career in visual arts, specializing in textile design. Sadly, on 24 February 2024, at the age of 63, Benoît van Innis passed away in Brussels, leaving behind a legacy of creativity and inspiration.
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