The Story Behind Atelier 296

Where code meets canvas

A developer who paints. Building websites for galleries, artists, and musicians who understand that craft matters.

Stefan Vandermeulen

Stefan Vandermeulen, Brussels

I've been building websites since 2002. But I've been making art for longer.

My path to web development wasn't typical. I started with a camera, spending years documenting landscapes and architecture. The patience it taught me, the attention to composition, the understanding that every detail matters; all of it found its way into how I write code.

These days, I paint. Portraits and figures, working in the Belgian tradition. Oil on canvas. Slow work that demands presence. It's the opposite of the digital world, and yet, it informs everything I build online.

When you understand how a gallery thinks about presenting work, you build better gallery websites. When you know what an artist needs, you create tools that actually help.

For over two decades, my studio Netdust has partnered with cultural institutions, social organizations, and creative agencies across Belgium. More than 150 projects. Each one built to last.

Atelier 296 is the natural evolution: a focused practice dedicated to the art world. Websites for galleries who take their artists seriously. Portfolios for artists who take their work seriously. Platforms for musicians who understand that presentation matters.

I build websites the way I paint: with patience, attention to craft, and respect for the work they're meant to showcase.

Two Practices, One Perspective

The technical and the artistic aren't opposites. They inform each other.

The Developer

Through Netdust, I've spent 22 years building robust WordPress solutions. Custom themes, complex integrations, systems that work reliably for years.

  • WordPress Development
  • Custom Theme Architecture
  • YOOtheme Pro Specialist
  • Performance Optimization
  • Long-term Maintenance

The Artist

Oil painting in the Belgian tradition. Portraits and figures that require the same patience and attention to craft that good code demands.

  • Portrait & Figure Painting
  • Belgian Painting Tradition
  • Documentary Photography (past)
  • Landscape Photography (past)
  • Architectural Photography (past)

Let's talk about your project

Whether you're a gallery, an artist, or a musician, I'd love to hear what you're working on.