Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Bruges artist Arno Brys has died at the age of 97. He preserved the Holy Blood Procession, taught generations of students, and left 150 designs now archived by Musea Brugge.
As VRT News reported, Arno Brys, a well-known Bruges artist, has died at the age of 97. He was born in Ostend, where he spent his early years before moving on to build a career in the arts. In 1955, he married artist and tapestry embroiderer Beatrix Uleyn.
After their marriage, the couple settled in Bruges. Brys taught for many years at the art academy in Roeselare and later at the Sint-Lucas Higher Institute in Ghent, today LUCA School of Arts. Through his teaching, he guided many students who later built their own artistic careers.
“His work is characterised by heraldic and historical accuracy, with a richness of colours, fabrics, and materials,”
according to the organisers of the Procession of the Holy Blood.
How did Arno Brys shape Bruges’ cultural heritage and the Holy Blood procession?
Brys gained recognition for his designs that shaped cultural life in Bruges. He created costumes, flags, giants, and floats used in parades, processions, and open-air events. The designs became part of Bruges’ cultural identity and were remembered long after the events ended.
In 1969, the Holy Blood Procession in Bruges faced the risk of ending. The centuries-old tradition was under pressure, and its survival was uncertain. Artist Arno Brys and Anton Viaene launched a campaign to secure its future. Working closely with the city of Bruges, they created a 10-year plan to restore the event.
“Brys always drew his designs on a sheet of A4 paper and described every detail, even going so far as to include the colour codes,”
says Matthieu Clarysse, the general coordinator of the Procession of the Holy Blood.
“He was demanding, a perfectionist, and very strict about the execution of his designs. We are grateful to Arno Brys for his talented work and look back with pride on what he has achieved for us and for the city of Bruges.”
In 2022, Musea Brugge added a major collection of Brys’s designs to its archives. The collection contained about 150 full-colour costumes, giant figures, and a wide set of drawings for banners, floats, boats, posters, and programs. The collection has been fully digitised by Musea Brugge and can now be viewed on the museum’s website.
