Mel Lucy Bruneel (born Mélanie Lambrechts, 1994) is a Belgian artist based in Antwerp. There, she searches for visual references that evoke a sense of nostalgia. She takes photographs and collects old postcards, newspaper clippings, books, and similar materials as references. Based on these, she creates drawings and paintings as visual anecdotes. Admirers of the “Koekenstad” will therefore recognise many characteristic places of Antwerp.

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Her use of color is warm, like a sultry summer morning while the city is still asleep. The palette is reminiscent of old yellowed postcards or photographs that have been left in the sun for too long. Bruneel creates her own visual language that uplifts—Antwerp seen through rose-tinted glasses. However, those who look longer may also find melancholy in the street scenes which are often devoid of people. A painting may feel liberating or calming to one person, while to another it may feel deserted. This duality is an important emotional layer in her work. Through her nostalgic artworks, she aims to connect people through their shared love of the city.