Greg van Staey, who was still a Master's student in Painting at the Antwerp Academy in 2017, won the KoMASK Master Salon Award during the Masters Salon Painting 2017. During the Masters Salon, 11 European Academies will show work by 39 students who graduated Cum Laude in Painting last year. Six international jury members chose Van Staey's work as the winner. Van Staey received a cash prize of 5,000 euros from Flemish Minister of Culture Sven Gatz. In addition, the painter will have an exhibition in St. Petersburg. Greg Van Staey's career got off to a flying start by winning an international painting competition “The Masters Salon Painting” in 2017. His work is based on ecological themes and starts from a personal concern for our environment and from the issue of climate change. He puts his finger on the wound, without pointing the finger. By exploring the thin line between figuration and abstraction, he creates space for interpretation of this theme. In addition to a visual exercise, the images also become a reflection for both the artist and the viewer.