One of my closest friends, Michael Larson, reached out to share some exciting news: he was going to be knighted by the Knighthood of the Brewers Mash Staff in the Grand Place in Brussels. This is a remarkable honor, and I knew I had to be a part of it. I contacted my lifelong friends, and we all wanted to support Michael in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Thanks to Michael's dedication to Duvel, the renowned Belgian beer company he works for, I was introduced to the world of Duvel. During a beer festival at Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown, New York, in 2012, he encouraged me to enter a design competition for a Duvel art glass. My Rooftops design ultimately won, becoming a favorite among Duvel collectors in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Through this connection, I forged many friendships in Europe, particularly with Bjorn Wauters and his wife, Saskia. Over the years, we've shared countless FaceTime conversations. Bjorn became my link to the Duvel fans in t' Grensgeval, a dedicated club for Duvel enthusiasts. They even invited me to be the guest artist at one of their events.
In 2024, Michael asked me to design another Duvel glass for the Chicago market. It was produced and available for sale in Europe just in time for our trip to Belgium.
I'm thrilled to share these photos from our unforgettable journey. Congratulations, Sir Michael! Your commitment to your craft has given us an experience we will cherish forever.
We had an amazing time, enjoying a delicious dinner, and I got to sip Duvel on tap, along with several other fantastic beers. It was a pleasure meeting Martijn and Karlijn de Groot, the owners of Grand Cafe De Graanbeurs. Their staff is truly exceptional!
We had an amazing day filled with games, delicious food, and great beer at the field hockey club. I was honored to be invited as a guest artist, where I signed glasses and prints featuring my glass designs. My 'Chicago' glass, which was released just a couple of weeks before my visit, is now available exclusively in Europe through the Duvel website and at the brewery. During the awards ceremony, I was thrilled to be made an honorary member of 't Grengeval."
City Center, Ghent
The first piece that the Chouffe was printed on.
Dada Chapel front doors
Entering the Knighting Ceremony
Michael Larson, Duvel USA
September 7, 2024
September 7, 2024