Mike Michiels Belgium
Mike Michiels is the coordinator of KAOS. He holds a Master’s degree in Arts from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and is trained as a mental health nurse.
Mike Michiels is the coordinator of KAOS. He holds a Master’s degree in Arts from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp and is trained as a mental health nurse. These two backgrounds converge in KAOS, founded in 2011. The organisation hosts research residencies for artists in mental health institutions, curates exhibitions, and organises KAOS Talks—in collaboration with the Dr. Guislain Museum—where resident artists come together to reflect on their work and experiences. Since 2025, KAOS also runs KAOS Radio, a podcast featuring in-depth conversations between each resident artist and Mike.
Meet the other speakers
Erik Thys
Erik Thys is a psychiatrist, researcher, and visual artist, affiliated with UPC KU Leuven and the Psycho-Social Centre Ixelles. His work spans mental health, creativity, and history, and includes acclaimed books on psychiatric persecution and Nazi collaboration.
Simon Allemeersch
Simon Allemeersch is a theatre maker and member of the collective Lucinda Ra, as well as a researcher at Ghent University. His doctoral research explores housing trajectories in social high-rise buildings, drawing on residents’ lived experiences of mental health care.
Elien Ronse
Elien Ronse is a visual artist working across disciplines including contemporary art, community practice, political activism, and theoretical research. Her work critically examines problematic relational mechanisms in late-capitalist society.
@ The conference
Mik will be moderating the Friday morning conversation "How can artists claim a meaningful place within care settings?", together with Elien Ronse, Erik Thys & Simon Allemeersch. Rendez-vous between 11:45 and 12:30.
