Wijnegem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) -The late Antwerp artist Paul Van Hoeydonck, who designed the initial art installation for the moon, died at 99 years old on Saturday afternoon. His family made this announcement through an official press statement. His spirit left his body peacefully in his home with Marleen at his side.
The Antwerp artist Paul Van Hoeydonck, who designed the first artwork ever placed on the moon, departed this world peacefully on Saturday afternoon at age 99. Through a press announcement, his family revealed his peaceful passing at home with his wife, Marleen, by his side. Through his role as sculptor, Paul Van Hoeydonck designed Fallen Astronaut, which the Apollo 15 astronauts installed on the moon in 1971 as an artistic tribute to those who died in space exploration.
“A few weeks ago we were with him to celebrate his 99th and half birthday,” wrote Philip Heylen, friend of the artist and honorary alderman of Antwerp in the press release.
“At that moment, it was clear that his light was slowly fading. It is somewhat unreal that Paul is no longer here. You almost thought that he would be here forever. And perhaps that is the case, thanks to his enormous artistic legacy. He continues to communicate with us through his works.”
Van Hoeydonck was born on October 8, 1925, in Antwerp and became an artist who created sculptures alongside painting drafts and graphical works. Throughout his career, he tested various contemporary materials, which included bronze, chrome, steel, plexiglass and polyester. Fallen Astronaut occupied the only position of artwork on the moon before American artist Jeff Koons sent 125 mini sculptures to the lunar surface in February 2023.
Following his lunar achievement, Van Hoeydonck continued showing his work at international venues, including Milan and New York’s Guggenheim Museum exhibitions. Since moving to Wijnegem in 1955 until his death, the town recognised him as an honorary citizen in 2021.
What were the key events in Paul Van Hoeydonck’s career and the history of Lunar art?
Paul Van Hoeydonck became internationally known in 1971 after his sculpture Fallen Astronaut received placement on the moon through Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin.
The memorial that astronauts and cosmonauts created for space exploration throughout history exists as a small 8.5 cm aluminium statue. NASA approved the moon sculpture as long as its construction met specific requirements, including lightweight designs with durability and no commercial or nationalistic elements allowed.
Van Hoeydonck proved his versatility as a modernist artist by practising sculpture together with painting and mixed media before becoming famous for his work with Fallen Astronaut on the moon. His professional life included exhibition presentations at both Milan and New York, which resulted in his artwork being showcased at the Guggenheim Museum. The placement of Fallen Astronaut became the initial and exclusive authorised artwork in lunar space that remained for more than five decades until Jeff Koons sent miniature sculptures in February 2024 through a private space expedition.
The Apollo 15 mission transported Van Hoeydonck’s sculpture as it marked the fourth lunar mission to put humans on the lunar surface. The crew positioned the artwork next to a memorial dedicated to fourteen former space exploration personnel.
The absence of precise coordinates has made it impossible to specify the statue’s location, but its existence has permanently established Van Hoeydonck as both an artist and historian of space exploration. His 2024 death at age 99 rekindled interest in his artistic accomplishments, especially because space exploration art continues to advance alongside commercial operations to the moon.
