Johan Van Mullem was born in Congo in 1959 to Belgian parents and grew up traveling the world due to his parents' diplomatic postings, including a seven-year stay in Tunisia. He is self-taught, starting drawing at the age of five, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He studied architecture in Bruges and later in Brussels. Eventually, Johan began exploring printmaking and painting, now using engraving ink to create his paintings, a rare medium in contemporary art.

Since his youth, Van Mullem has focused on wrinkled faces, seeking the engraved beauty in expressions. The face remains the central theme of his work, with subjects appearing rejuvenated, disappearing, or emerging in a halo of ancient light, evoking intense emotional introspection. His layered diluted ink washes create an indescribable presence on the canvas, mastered through self-teaching and inspired by his experience as a printmaker.

A versatile artist—designer, poet, musician, painter, sculptor—Van Mullem creates a diverse yet cohesive body of work, connecting and awakening the senses. While contemporary, his works suggest echoes of historical masterpieces. His paintings are found in significant private collections and museums across Europe, exhibited in solo shows in London, Paris, New York, and Brussels, as well as various European museums.