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Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

TRANSPARENCE

MIETT TAJTHY
paintings 

PHILIPPA EDWARDS
mixed media

29  nov – 01 dec, 2024

Opening on Saturday, 30 November, from 16:00.

 

The works of Miett and Philippa investigate the hidden potential in the ordinary, encouraging us to appreciate the unpredictability of nature and beauty in the unexpected.
After a twenty-year interval, Miett returns to her passion for watercolour, passed down by her grandfather. She uses the fluidity of water and pigments to capture fleeting impressions of light and air in nature and urban scenes, revealing beauty often lost in the pace of daily life.

Similarly, Philippa Edwards uses her art to explore the precariousness of time, focusing on the unnoticed details of our surroundings. Her latest series of work, Capsule, transforms a drawing of a seed into an abstracted photograph applied to glass, questioning whether the seed will follow a natural path to fruition or evolve into something unexpectedly beautiful and unsettling.

  Miett Tajthy

Philippa Edwards

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

ALEX HULST

Naked therapyDrawings

06 – 12 Dec, 2024

Opening on Saturday, December 07 from 16:00

I grew up in a talented family .
My mother did art school academy and was teaching drawing and painting .
She was specialized in portrets and nude.
My father did sculpture and ceramics .
I had one exhibition with them in 2000 when I was 30.
Over the years I did mainly drawings of animals ,especially dogs.
Also some landscapes and other subjects.
When my wife died in 2017 I started life drawing again to keep my mind at ease .
It became my way of coping with the loss and also a way to honour my wife’s strength .
An admiration in general for the person she was and how much she made me grow.

It became my “naked therapy “and after a while the therapy part went more into fun and development of my drawing skills and style.
This exhibition will show some of the most interesting ones of the seven years .

 

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

MYLÈNE VAN ARK

THIS IS ME – paintings

10 – 16 jan. 2025
OPENING on Saturday from 17:00h 

‘THIS IS ME’
Who am I ? Writing about yourself is not always easy…which part of me would I like to show ….woman, mother, friend, lover, sister, daughter, artist… these are all parts of me, like the pieces in my paintings, always looking for a connection. Insights from all the different parts….trying to stay close to myself and every time from a different perspective.
A connection of love, sorrow, happiness….A connection from life translated to my life expressed on canvas…
That’s what art is for me, exposing my soul… ‘THIS IS ME’

   Scorpio Heart Art

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

KATRIEN ART & FOOD

01 – 02 feb 2025
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 
 

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Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

AGATA TKACZYK
JOANNA MALARSKA

MOONLIGHT GARDEN – paintings

07 – 13 february. 2025
OPENING on Saturday from 17:00h 

A garden at night bathed in the delicate glow of the moon, where everything is illuminated by a subtle light. Wet dew, enveloping the plants, shimmering with a silver glow. Moist lips. The air is saturated with the sweet scent of the earth.

You can smell the intoxicating scent of night flowers. The warmth of the midsummer night envelops you like Shakespeare’s lovers leaning in for a kiss. All you can hear are gentle murmurs, songs of the night pins and a seductive whisper.

A passer-by who accidentally comes across this night garden, surprised by its magical atmosphere, is unexpectedly drawn into the poetics of the night, becoming a greedy voyeur.

Joanna Malarska

 

Agata 
Joanna

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

MUNNIK

paintings

14 – 20 feb 2025
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 
 

Growing up Munnik got inspired by nature, art, and his love for music. Combined with his love for people this seemed the perfect combination for his paintings.

Munnik captures the essence of a core evocation. Mixing neo-expressionism with abstraction he creates a fine yet loose interpretation of a visual memory. After 7 years of self-taught experience, he feels the lines leaving his body and expressing himself while drawing. His art is made days after party’s and travels the places where he finds true meaning in life, turning this into reflections of the soul and the way we are. 

   

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

DIMPHY & HILDE

exhibition

14 – 20 march 2025
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 
 

 

DIMPHY CO
My art arises and develops as I let myself be inspired by the environment and the materials available. In recent years, I have worked with sustainably sourced materials and enjoy incorporating nature into my art.

 

HIILDE
Nature as a garden.
Pristine wilderness transformed into natural landscapes.
We love creating our own garden.
The best and worst of us grow in these gardens.
Stories of growth and decay.
Everything is fragile.
Beauty can be found in ‘wear and tear.’
Following my curiosity within organized chaos.
Hoping to transform the fleeting into something more enduring.
Gusta H.

Hilde Goossens
studiogustago@gmail.com
+31 630737214

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

BART LUTTERS

“Whisper from Below” paintings

21 – 27 march 2025
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 
 

In his age of rapid technological progress, human beings live longer, healthier, and more efficient lives than ever. At the same time, we seem to become increasingly alienated from the profound human experiences of love, connection, compassion, suffering, and dying. Why are we doing so much better, but feeling so much worse?

In his artwork, Bart Lutters explores this modern paradox of being human in an increasingly technologized mass society. Inspired by his work as a medical doctor and a historian, Bart draws upon intuitive collage and mixed media techniques in a heartfelt attempt to restore the whispers of inherent humanity in a world that has become complex to the point of fracture.

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

MARIANNA STUHR

paintings

11 – 17 april 2025
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 
 

Born in 1982 in Poland, Marianna is a visual artist with a PhD from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Currently living and working in Frankfurt, Germany, she has received numerous scholarships and awards, including those from the Ministry of Polish Culture and National Heritage, the Kosciuszko Foundation, and the Polish National Center of Culture.

Her art seeks a balance between tradition and modernity by blending contemporary expression with classic techniques like hand-printing and canvas painting, often conveying personal and intimate stories. Recent works vividly interpret memory processes, inspired by personal experiences and challenging family situations, and juxtapose these with neurobiological processes within the human mind and physical phenomena on micro and macro scales.

Earlier works, such as Parallel Universes (2023), explore astrophysics by giving new forms and contexts to distant universal processes while intertwining personal experiences. Through her art, Marianna meditates on the theme of existence, using painting as a form of narration and interpretation to deepen her connection with the universe.

  

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

MARINA KORTENBOUT
paintings

02 – 08 may, 2025

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

 

“as an artist, i observe.
searching for essence, purity, reason and emotion, abstraction tells the story
‘abstract-minimalisme’ as seen in the mono-ha movement, ‘artists like agnes martin’ and
‘musician and poet nick cave’ feels like home to me; fascinated by the stillness,
delicacy and controle that emanate from their work.
what has passed through my hands must be beautiful without reservation, adhering
to my own definition.
nature feeds my imagination and helps make ideas manifest and concrete.
rhythm and balance structure my work, letting me explore and create new
definitions, version by version.”
.

   

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

THIJS RIJKERS
exhibition

21 – 27 may, 2025

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

 

   

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

HENRIETTE VAN DER DOES

SCULPTURES & PAINTINGS

15 – 21 nov. 2024
OPENING on Saturday from 17:00h 

Henriette van der Does – Her work is heavily influenced by her extensive drawing lessons and inspired by many different teachers in different cultural institutions. Human figure, movement, emotion are predominant themes in her work. Her style is constantly evolving.

For the past 20 years she has enjoyed giving art education to adults and children, both privately and at school and plans to pick this up again when her art studio/gallerie in France is open to business

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

LINDA & SABINE
photography

13 June – 19 June, 2025

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

 

LenS Photography

LenS stands for Linda Grool and Sabine Heetebrij, they are both photographers, graduates of the Photo Academy in Amsterdam.
Linda and Sabine often work together, but also individually in their own way on a project with an often socially relevant theme.

Linda Grool

Linda Grool creates new images from the existing images around her. The photographed reality acts as source material for the final image.
The starting point for her images are often subjects or places that touch or amaze her emotionally. Linda paints with layers and parts of her photos to create a new image that best illuminates her feelings and vision. Images of her associative reality.

More of Linda’s work can be seen on www.lindagroolfotografie.nl
For more information about the work mail to linda__grool@hotmail.com

Sabine Heetebrij

Themes such as decay and transience are regularly reflected in the work of Sabine Heetebrij. Preferably in an abstract way and especially where no people are involved, and the decay is natural.
Natural decay is elusive. Everything you leave to nature disappears over time. That’s a reassuring thought. Decay is not hard, sharp and clear, it is a (sometimes painful) slow process.

More of Sabine’s work can be seen on www.sabineheetebrijfotografie.nl
For more information about the work mail to sabine@lens-fotografie.nl

More work by LenS can be seen at:

 

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

HANS PIETERSE

PHOTOGRAPHY

20 – 26 jun. 2025
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 

Hans Pieterse’s passion for 17th-century floral still lifes and admiration for Dutch artists, including the famous Johannes Vermeer, serve as the wellspring of inspiration for his exquisite fine art pieces. As an experienced product photographer with a studio in Amsterdam, he has the ideal environment to express his creativity and share his art with the world.
Located in the heart of the Netherlands in Amsterdam, Hans Pieterse’s studio is available for visits by appointment, offering an immersive experience amidst a collection of large-format works. Hans Pieterse takes pleasure in personally sharing the process behind his artworks and the passion driving them.
His unique fine art collection, comprised of 17th-century floral still lifes, has gained nationwide recognition through exhibitions in prestigious galleries and the adoration of art enthusiasts who embrace his work.
These exclusive artworks are available in limited, signed, and numbered editions, ensuring that you always acquire an original and unique piece by Hans Pieterse. Carefully printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art paper and professionally mounted on Dibond with plexiglass, these pieces not only exude luxury but also provide excellent protection. Each piece is equipped with an aluminum hanging profile on the back, allowing you to display your unique artwork immediately in your home. Additionally, Hans Pieterse offers alternative finishing options to ensure the artwork perfectly complements your interior.

 

  

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

BAS SEBUS

Paintings

12 – 18 sep, 2025

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

Bas Sebus (1961) is autodidact and worked in a realistic painting style until 2016. The paintings are based on literary or philosophical subjects. No still lifes or real landscapes but painted ideas. In recent years, Sebus has also been making more abstract work. The composition is made based on images from the real world. In many cases, a watercolor is first made, which then becomes the starting point for an oil painting.

Sebus participated twice in the Exhibition for the Royal Prize for Free Painting. From 2000 to 2004 he made panels for several cruise ships of the Holland America Line.

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

THIJS WESTERBEEK
Sculptures

   19 – 25 sep. 2025
    OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 

 

Brings out the beauty of the stone by simplifying shapes as much as possible with few or no details, less is more.

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

Eileen van Essen

Photography

14 – 20 nov. 2025
OPENING on Saturday from 14:00h 

 

 

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

HENRIETTE VAN DER DOES

SCULPTURES & PAINTINGS

21 nov – 04 dec. 2025
OPENING on Saturday from 17:00h 

Henriette van der Does – Her work is heavily influenced by her extensive drawing lessons and inspired by many different teachers in different cultural institutions. Human figure, movement, emotion are predominant themes in her work. Her style is constantly evolving.

For the past 20 years she has enjoyed giving art education to adults and children, both privately and at school and plans to pick this up again when her art studio/gallerie in France is open to business

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

THIJS WESTERBEEK
Sculptures

    08 – 14 nov. 2024
    OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 

 

Brings out the beauty of the stone by simplifying shapes as much as possible with few or no details, less is more.

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

HANS PIETERSE

PHOTOGRAPHY

25 – 31 oct. 2024
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 

Hans Pieterse’s passion for 17th-century floral still lifes and admiration for Dutch artists, including the famous Johannes Vermeer, serve as the wellspring of inspiration for his exquisite fine art pieces. As an experienced product photographer with a studio in Amsterdam, he has the ideal environment to express his creativity and share his art with the world.
Located in the heart of the Netherlands in Amsterdam, Hans Pieterse’s studio is available for visits by appointment, offering an immersive experience amidst a collection of large-format works. Hans Pieterse takes pleasure in personally sharing the process behind his artworks and the passion driving them.
His unique fine art collection, comprised of 17th-century floral still lifes, has gained nationwide recognition through exhibitions in prestigious galleries and the adoration of art enthusiasts who embrace his work.
These exclusive artworks are available in limited, signed, and numbered editions, ensuring that you always acquire an original and unique piece by Hans Pieterse. Carefully printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art paper and professionally mounted on Dibond with plexiglass, these pieces not only exude luxury but also provide excellent protection. Each piece is equipped with an aluminum hanging profile on the back, allowing you to display your unique artwork immediately in your home. Additionally, Hans Pieterse offers alternative finishing options to ensure the artwork perfectly complements your interior.

 

  

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

ANTIGONE, MIKELA, KATIE
VACUUM STATE – fashion

22 – 24 October, 2024

Opening from 16:00h

 

VACUUM STATE is a project that combines photography and film aiming to showcase the new collection of Katie Tubbing.
In a time of mass production, consumers are searching for instant gratification through purchasing more and more disposable products. Katie Tubbing’s clothes counter this by focusing on preservation in combination with a slow fashion perspective. Money functions as its own type of religion, for what is money, if not a shared fiction? The goal of this project is not to sell the collection but to show the world the possibilities of handcraft as well as present a slower more sustainable approach to dressing the human body through film and photography.

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

BINK VAN VOLLENHOVEN
paintings

18 – 20 October, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

 

As an interdisciplinary artist, Bink is socially engaged and addresses current themes such as gender identity, (bio)diversity and technological innovation. Their work takes different forms ranging from visual art, film and new media to science, writing, performance and curating. Alongside their work as an artist, they teach Visual language, artistic positioning and interdisciplinary art at the Maastricht Institute of Arts.   Bink’s interest in holism and in what this philosophy might mean for people in their daily lives is at the basis of The Infinity Games. In this ongoing art project, the universe is seen as a playful holistic composition of elements. Through a website, Bink invites visitors to co-create an infinite work of art by playing the Composition Game and uploading pictures to collections. Together with The Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence of Maastricht University Bink published a scientific paper on the logic behind harmony in visual composition. Their artistic practice reflects Bink’s broad interest in different subject matters and media. This has resulted in a rich body of work, in which each art piece or commissioned work has its own story.it.

   

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery


METAMORPHOSIS
paintings & Sculpture exhibition
by Sravani Panchavani 
&
Rineke Nijssen 

11 – 17 October, 2024

Opening, October 12 on Saturday from 17:00h

 

Sravani is an Indian Visual Artist currently living in Amsterdam. 
Her creative practice is inspired by daily interactions with nature. Simple things like golden sun rays kissing lush green leaves, the sound of a stream of water in a quiet forest, the depth of the ocean and the colours of the sky during a sunset- these things excite Sravani’s senses. She likes to call her paintings ‘Earth Inspired’. 
Sravani likes to capture the essence of her subject through an expressive colour palette and rich impasto strokes. Through her art, she intends to bring a piece of this creation/nature close to the viewer and hopes to help them build a deep connection with it.

 

Rineke Nijssen is a versatile artist with an urge to explore materials and forms. Favorite materials and techniques bubble up from her experiments, which she delves into further. Currently the emphasis of her work is in creating 3D objects from glass and making bronze sculptures.
Right through all the work you can see her love for forms from nature. Flowers, animals, people, they all come along. Sometimes solitary but often also in patterns and repetitions.
Rineke works from her studio in Elst, municipality of Overbetuwe, The Netherlands 

   

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

ANNEMIEKE WOLTER
& Wim Zorn
paintings

04 – 06 October, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

 

Annemieke Wolter is a visual artist with over 30 years of experience. She has found her niche in the realm of abstract expressionism and minimal abstract art. Drawing inspiration from nature, events, and everyday objects, her paintings are often vibrant and large in size. This year, she has also ventured into producing “Collectibles” – minimal abstract paintings in a variety of sizes.
Her work is characterized by a distinctive brushwork style. She employs thick layers of paint to create depth and texture. By incorporating stark contrasts and vibrantly crafted perspectives, she infuses her compositions with a dynamic element.

Especially in her abstract expressionist pieces, she aims to narrate a story with each painting. However, that narrative invariably receives a unique interpretation in the viewer’s eyes. She seeks to engage, surprise, and perhaps inspire her audience.

Over the past 30 years, Annemieke has participated in numerous exhibitions and shows, both within the Netherlands and internationally. These experiences have enriched her creative journey, allowing her the opportunity to share her work with a wide audience. Highlights of her career include the Florence Biennale in Florence, the Art Capital Expo in the Grand Palais in Paris, Art of the Mind 1 and 2 at the Chianciano Art Museum in Italy, as well as exhibitions at the Gagliardi Gallery in London and the World Art Vision at the Salvador Dali Museum in Barcelona.

She invites you to explore her portfolio. Allow yourself to be immersed in her artistry and experience firsthand the power of art to transform our perceptions. If you wish to know more about her work or are interested in any of her art pieces, she welcomes you to reach out. 

 

 

Wim Zorn
Working with different materials Wim Zorn is a true studio painter. His workshop in the region Friesland in the Netherlands is both a delivery room and a laboratory. In this space, he creates an autonomous world of materials, form and color, in which spatial experiences are combined with a physical presence.

His paintings are changing rooms and adding something to them. Their spatial experiences go hand in hand with physical aura. Their physical presence is inseparable from their tactile component. The sense of touch is continually stimulated. Zorn’s abstract material paintings are truly non-representational but never devoid of life. The surface of the paint shimmers and vibrates. Irregularities, rough skin, and jagged edges ameliorate the severity. They betray human intervention and emphasize that the abstract concept has not been generated by a computer, but by a creator of flesh and blood.

Maybe it is like a hide-and-seek game when an artist creates something so cool and collected on the surface while the piece is boiling inside. It brings the viewer where she or he is supposed to be: in an active communicating stand. The viewer understands that art also creates space in his or her own mind..

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

METICULOUS
KIRSTY FLETCHER
paintings

27 Sep – 03 October, 2024

Opening, September 28 on Saturday from 16:00h

 

Spanning multiple continents, artists Gloria Bautista, Liezel Sinclair, Fernando Medrano and Kirsty Fletcher have come together for their first collaboration ‘Meticulous’.

Paying homage to the timeless skill of artists and artisans who work with their hands, this exhibition explores the intersection of contemporary art and aesthetic with craftsmanship where both modern and traditional mediums are employed to create pieces that are both distinctive and unique.

 

  

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

Dayv van Der Merwe
paintings

20 – 22 September, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

For some, creative expression is an outlet. For me, it has become more of a compulsion as I have grown older. The faces staring back at me in my mixed media pieces are fragments of my dreams, as deeply layered and textured as sleep itself. By actualising and anthropomorphising them, I give them a life beyond the ephemeral place they hold in my subconscious, releasing them from their occluded, shrouded existences. In doing so, I release the hold they have on me, too, and can forget my unconscious meetings with them

   

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

DIANA CANALES
paintings

13 – 15 September, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

 

Diana Canales is a young Costa Rican artist who has managed to mix traditional and digital art. Until a few years ago, Diana was attached to traditional and academic art, but with time she was convinced to take her talent to digital media, where she has managed to stand out for her impeccable technique. Thanks to this, she has collaborated in projects of editorial illustration, graphic design and digital advertising.

 

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

Loana, Ruxandra, Sabina

EXHIBITION

05 – 11 jul. 2024
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 

 “Off Recall” Art Exhibition

Discover the unique perspectives of three Romanian artists: Sabina Legănaru (Bucharest), Ruxandra Cristina Bocin-Dumitriu, and Ioana Zberea (both based in Amsterdam). United by their preoccupation with memories, familiar landscapes, and their inner worlds, these artists offer a captivating exploration through their art.

Through various mediums and techniques, such as oil painting and photographic interventions, they create intricately textured artworks aimed at immersing the viewer in a sensory experience. This serves as a gateway to delve deeper into an interior world of memories and emotions.

—-

Sabina Legănaru’s artistic practice in abstract painting delves deeply into two interconnected themes: emotional expression and the impact of technology and rapid change on modern lives. Through her work, she explores the depths of emotional landscapes, aiming to capture and convey profound feelings and inner experiences. Utilizing a less complex palette and dynamic compositions, she seeks to evoke a sense of introspection and connection with the viewer.

Preoccupied with her surroundings, Ioana Zberea uses the unusual and ordinary aspects of nature as a starting point for introspection, continuously questioning the known conventions about beauty, balance, and peace. She paints with oil or acrylic on a surface made of overlapping strips of jute. She uses this material as a metaphor for reality, full of roughness and unsmoothed.

—-

Ruxandra Cristina Bocin-Dumitriu immerses her spectators in the calm and soothing depths of the inner world. In her intervention on photography body of work, serene landscapes are the place of encounter between the inner and the outer world. Reality is the first layer, and with it, emotions, memories, ideas and intuition come to life inside, completing and transcending the moment.

The two worlds flow seamlessly into each other, at times they break apart and are mended together again, referencing the ancient Chinese technique “kintsugi”: the gold line of a portrait gently kissing the two worlds into one.

 

 

 

THE LAND BEHIND THE MIRROR

photography 

21 – 28 June, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

 

The Land Behind The Mirror is een kunstcollectief bestaande uit Alida van Gool, Katariina Kärki, Marleen Dalhuijsen, Rienk de Vries, Roald Wolters en San van Nieuwburg. Fotografie en bewegend beeld vormen de basis van het werk dat zij maken.
De bindende factor tussen de kunstenaars is de manier waarop zij de realiteit bevragen, omdraaien en in een nieuw licht zetten. De buitenwereld vormt veelal een referentiekader of vertrekpunt voor verder onderzoek. Hun werk kenmerkt zich door openheid en nieuwsgierigheid. Het nodigt de bezoeker uit om de wereld achter het spiegelende oppervlak binnen te stappen.
 

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

LINDA & SABINE
photography

14 June – 20 June, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

 

LenS Photography

LenS stands for Linda Grool and Sabine Heetebrij, they are both photographers, graduates of the Photo Academy in Amsterdam.
Linda and Sabine often work together, but also individually in their own way on a project with an often socially relevant theme.

Linda Grool

Linda Grool creates new images from the existing images around her. The photographed reality acts as source material for the final image.
The starting point for her images are often subjects or places that touch or amaze her emotionally. Linda paints with layers and parts of her photos to create a new image that best illuminates her feelings and vision. Images of her associative reality.

More of Linda’s work can be seen on www.lindagroolfotografie.nl
For more information about the work mail to linda__grool@hotmail.com

Sabine Heetebrij

Themes such as decay and transience are regularly reflected in the work of Sabine Heetebrij. Preferably in an abstract way and especially where no people are involved, and the decay is natural.
Natural decay is elusive. Everything you leave to nature disappears over time. That’s a reassuring thought. Decay is not hard, sharp and clear, it is a (sometimes painful) slow process.

More of Sabine’s work can be seen on www.sabineheetebrijfotografie.nl
For more information about the work mail to sabine@lens-fotografie.nl

More work by LenS can be seen at:

 

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

DUANE TESKE
Solo exhibition – drawings

07 – 13 June, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00

Duane Teske – the artist whose sensitive and detailed work brings fantasy to life, via the medium of pencil and graphite.


‘My love affair with the nuanced world of black and white began illo tempore.I have been heavily influenced by the works of Gustave Doré whose majesty to recreate the enormity of the imagination is overwhelming. Throughout the years I have developed an ability to create emotive and ethereal images that are inspired by literature, or just appear from my creative power within. Armed with a pencil and graphite powder, I have lost myself in the crafting of pieces of art that play with *light, shadow* and *emotions* – the quintessential elements of one’s life.

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery
Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

JOMARY
BIERENBROODSPOT
&
MEGAN LEE

paintings

24 May – 06 June, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

 

My artworks are a fusion of my love for nature and love for creating art. Art saved me. I found self-reconciliation and inner peace through it. “The drips” as I called them are my meditations along side the hidden or not so hidden swallow birds and ladybugs due to their good luck and positive symbols. They are perfect charms and I love them.

 

 

Megan Lee, a Malaysian Chinese opens up her past and present.

Walk along with her on her art journey. The title of her painting allows you to peek into that period of her life. You will find different styles and layering techniques from her collection. The layering depicts pages of her story. Her art is therapeutic for her and it is the only means to tell it all.

Her works embed with layers of deep thoughts and emotions.
Despite having exhibited in many countries, Megan still find opening up her stories intimidating at times.

She believes in freedom in painting, a free mind to create what’s from her heart and not what’s in her mind. You will find a variations of styles from her collections. Some on-going collections that are very close to her heart are Paperboat and Me, Untold, Happy Bunch of Dudes, Japanese Fan Dance, Noise of Silence and Get Back on Track.

 

  

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery
Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

JANINA BRUGMAN-LANDSMARK
sculptures

17 May – 23 May, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

 

My name is Janina Landsmark, born on the sunny and colorful island of Curaçao. Working and experimenting with clay gives me a lot of peace and relaxation and with clay I can express myself, both in shape and color. The clay world is boundless.
For example, I create objects and abstract shapes that contain movement, I decorate the skin of my objects with many colors and structure.
I combine form and colors and these should delight me and the viewer. Shape and color should be in harmony and balance.
I get my inspiration from the beautiful and vibrant colors of the island of Curaçao. Both of the colorful houses and the folkloric costumes of the island.
I make my work from stoneware, clay or porcelain.
Color makes life happy and it helps you to get to know yourself. My work is a reflection of how I am and how I am in life. My language is the language of color, it is sparkling, warm, cheerful and positive

 

Santiago Acosta Diaz
Hidden between volcanoes and in the forests of Gran Nicoya (Central America) resides a community, which has been making ceramics since many thousands of years. When the Spaniards discovered the site in 1503, they were in awe and deeply impressed by the sheer quality and beauty of these ceramics. Since then, art historians and connaisseurs regard the ceramic pieces originating from this region among America’s very best.

The tradition of ceramic-manufacturing has continued to exist and evolve until the present day. From the 90’s onwards, most ceramists have switched from producing utensils to creating art pieces in their own right. The superior quality, originality and pureness of the objects didn’t remain unnoticed. Since then, the greatest talents are represented in major museums worldwide. The most intricate and elaborate objects featuring infinately varying geometrical and nature inspired patterns continue to mesmerise peple from around the globe.

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

OLAF BISSCHOFF 

10 – 16 may. 2024
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h

Olaf Bisschoff’s new paintings draw inspiration from his childhood fever dreams, where he experienced intense, three-dimensional shapes in his home. These memories influenced his art, leading to paintings featuring complex geometries and ‘Escher nightmares’. The works combine pure form and color with a personal exploration of pressure and emotion.The series incorporates elements from Finnish non-figurative abstraction and the Russian Avant Garde Supremacist movement, highlighting the artist’s role as both creator and imitator. It comments on the idea that all art is a reinterpretation of existing concepts. Familiar artwork titles are repurposed, giving a nostalgic and critical look at originality in art. The paintings align with the mid-century modernist revival, experimenting with well-known images in new contexts, representing the cyclical nature of artistic creation.


 

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery
Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

ERSIN EKEN &
NAOMI MITSUKO MAKKELIE 

03 – 09 may. 2024
OPENING on Friday from 16:00h

 

Work by Ersin Eken that pauses for a show to contemplate the transience and mutability of life. For the creator, awareness of the temporariness of things is central. The sculptures of the creator reveal moments of transition. In exposing these processes (of changes), spectators are released to come to their own interpretations, thus forming their own experiences with the artworks. 

Feelings of melancholy, nostalgia, and an overwhelming sense of silence fill the atmosphere. The hardness of the materials contrasts with the softness and fragility of the organic elements. It is the silence after the storm that consists of the sculptures of a cosmos that was, as well as the potential of what is not yet. The connection to the feeling of transition is tangible, yet elusive. In the paintings of the creator, remnants of memories lurk that the viewer can no longer access.

The original memories the creator had in mind have given way to a space where everyone can find their own memories. In the silence of transience, spaces filled with vulnerable beauty, appreciation, and longing have emerged.

 

Naomi Mitsuko Makkelie (1992) explores the meaning, ethics, and value of immortality in her paintings. She presents a personal perspective on this topic, while also acknowledging that she is only a small part of a larger universe. By investigating the ways in which the future, present, and past intersect and influence each other on a historical, scientific, and cultural level, Makkelie’s work delves into the interpretation of culture. It is difficult to view artwork without a biased interpretation, but Makkelie embraces this challenge and plays with the perception of her work, which is often influenced by her Japanese background. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, Makkelie has been creating paintings and drawings inspired by traditional Japanese woodblock prints (Ukiyo-e) and has been making autobiographical works about what it is like to live in this era. Makkelie believes it is important for art and literature to document the past years, so that people in the future can understand what it was like to live during this time. This creates a different picture than the one presented by the media, which may be influenced by propaganda. What fascinates Makkelie about history is how much of it is unsubstantiated and based on fantasy and fairy tales. This makes her ponder the potential for art to contribute to the pollution of historical information. Makkelie believes that art should offer different personal truths to coexist and that it should critically engage with media and society. She feels that art has recently been lagging behind society more than it is innovating and that this should change. Naomi was born in Amsterdam and graduated Cum Laude at HKU in Utrecht. After graduation she did a master at Frank Mohr in Groningen. She also studied psychology at the University of Amsterdam. In 2018 she won the Buning Brongers Prize after graduating and was nominated for the Royal Prize of Painting. Her work has been exhibited at W138, The Royal Palace of Amsterdam, Art Rotterdam, Arti et Amicitiae, Paviljoen Welgelegen, Museum IJsselstein, Nieuw Dakota and Arwe Gallery.

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

TERRA
Connected by Ceramics 

26 apr – 02 may, 2024

Opening on Friday from 16:00h

As an ECE CERAMIC STUDIO, we are humbled by the opportunity to showcase the work of my ceramic students in our upcoming gallery show. It has been a truly enriching experience witnessing their growth and creativity through the process. I am grateful for the chance to share their wonderful achievements with the community, and i look forward to celebrating their talent and dedication together.

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

BAS SEBUS

Paintings

19 – 25 apr, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

Bas Sebus (1961) is autodidact and worked in a realistic painting style until 2016. The paintings are based on literary or philosophical subjects. No still lifes or real landscapes but painted ideas. In recent years, Sebus has also been making more abstract work. The composition is made based on images from the real world. In many cases, a watercolor is first made, which then becomes the starting point for an oil painting.

Sebus participated twice in the Exhibition for the Royal Prize for Free Painting. From 2000 to 2004 he made panels for several cruise ships of the Holland America Line.

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

HAGGITH VAN HEES

12 – 18 april 2024
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h

Haggith’s work is distinguished by her ability to integrate emotional depth and story into her paintings. Her palette is infused with vibrant colors that evoke emotions and moods, and the compositions often tell a story that invites the viewer to introspection. Through her art she tries to make a connection between the viewer and the essence of her own experiences and feelings.

Haggith’s paintings are not only visual masterpieces, but also a reflection of her deep involvement with the world around her. She continues to evolve as an artist, constantly looking for new sources of inspiration and challenges to push her creative boundaries. Haggith’s journey, which started as a child admiring art, has grown into an impressive artistic journey that stimulates the senses and fuels the imagination..

 

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

Atelier58 & Studio 2323 

05 – 11 april 2024
OPENING on Saturday from 17:00h

Amber and Arina are two young painters with a beautiful studio in the city center of Zwolle. This meter-high space is filled with their own modern, abstract art, and visitors can watch them work every day. The two enjoy experimenting with different shapes, textures and colors, with an emphasis on the interplay of balance.

Atelier58 is known for its colorful, vibrant and textured works, but Amber and Arina also embrace the challenge of simplicity. That’s why they incorporate subdued tones in their minimalist paintings. To maintain the dynamics, they also play with various materials and layering techniques in these works. The shared objective is for each piece to evoke a sense of joy in its own distinctive manner. Alongside portraits and figurative works, Arina specializes in paintings where various lines converge. Meanwhile, Amber concentrates on vibrant splash paintings and compositions featuring blocks and lines.

 

Studio 2323 Designer duo Carmen Heuvelmans & Sander Schram

 

Neuro Aesthetic Cube 
Product design and neuroscience. Two words you don’t often see in one sentence, yet according to Carmen Heuvelmans and Sander Schram of Studio 23:23, it makes sense to bring these worlds together. “Our brain responds very differently to straight lines than to flowing ones,” Carmen explains. “We even experience sharp angles and straight lines as frightening. We also feel more attracted to a design without a abrupt ending.” This information is valuable to the design duo. They took into account these neurocognitive preferences and incorporated all the features that people perceive as positive into a series of light designs, NeuroAesthetic Cubes. “This way, you are automatically drawn to the amorphous openings in the cube, and the curved lines exude tranquility.” They initially handcrafted the first models from a block of plaster. They then made a 3D scan of the models, which served as the foundation for the 3D-printed light objects. They applied several layers of plaster and a final coating of natural resin. The two complement each other well: Carmen has a background in neuroscience and design, while Sander specializes in light and film. This year, Carmen will further delve into neuroaesthetics, the field of neuroscience that deals with the production and perception of art. For this purpose, she will temporarily depart for Rome to study at the University of Medicine and Surgery Tor Vergata. “There is still much to be explored and implemented, as currently there is still a striking amount of design and architecture with a sleek formal language.”

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

JAN EVERWIJN & ANNEMARIE KUSTER 
Sculptures & Paintings

29 march – 04 april 2024 
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 

JAN EVERWIJN  
He makes sculptures in bronze, wood and stone.
Realistic after model or more abstract with natural material as a basis.


THE ESSENCE

A sculpture, a body, a man, a woman, like a landscape,
Emotion, tension and dynamics…
I like to wander through landscapes. In search of a stone, a piece of wood.
Inspirated by shape and texture. The basis for creating powerfull figures.
Human and animal in essence.
What could be more beautifull getting lost in such a landscape!

     


ANNEMARIE KUSTER

Annemarie’s work can be characterized as versatile.
Drawings, paintings, collages, assemblages, mixed media and poetry.
They reflect her experiences in life and her creative spirit.
She expresses herself mostly on paper of all kinds of sizes.
Her work is colourful and leaves room for imagination.
Her poetry is tender, light-hearted, on point and occasionally with a little humor.
Her motto: Ignorance fascinates, curiosity excites.

     

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

LENA LEIKO
IMMENSITY
exhibition

22 – 28 march 2024 
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 

Have you ever noticed how infinite the universe is? It is surprisingly filled with such massive objects as stars, galaxy clusters and cosmic filaments, and also contains the smallest building blocks, such as cells, atoms, molecules and quarks. Lena believes that the magic of our universe can be conveyed through macro photography. She has a passion for creating visual narratives that convey both known and unknown phenomena, blending the familiar with the mysterious aspects that humanity has already become aware of and those that await our discovery. Exploring her images, you will discover a fusion of the familiar and the alien, revealing the fullness of our understanding and beyond, where hidden mysterious, and sometimes unnerving phenomena of the universe.

 

    

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

RIK ZWIJNENBURG
Sculptures

15 – 21 march 2024 
OPENING on Saturday from 16:00h 

I draw inspiration from everyday life. Through various associations, an idea forms, and I seek ways to express that idea in a sculpture. I do this using clay, concrete, plaster, or stone, and where it adds value, I combine it with other materials.

  

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

MARA LIEM

ROBERT-JAN LECHNER

DRAWINGS

16 – 22 february 2024
OPENING on Saturday from 17:00h 

 

CREATURE OF HABIT

The work of Robert Jan Lechner (1987) finds its origin in human nature. It is about life in an environment that is constantly changing and the challenges we face during this infinite transformation. It is about where we come from and where we are going.
Robert imitates the shapes and colours that characterise nature and draws the movements of plants and animals. The lines and shapes that he observes have become part of his visual language. His work has a sense of balance and continuity, in order to visualise flow and unity.


Mara Liem / 林留白 (1980) was born and raised in Amsterdam, is of Chinese, Indonesian and Dutch heritage, and graduated at AKV|Sint Joost in Den Bosch in 2007. The myriad of cultures that influence Mara’s work are a reflection of her mixed heritage and her immersion in Nordic cultures whilst living abroad (in Finland and Iceland). She

fuses Eastern forms with Western subject matter and the storytelling traditions of folklore. In “Creature of Habit” she explores the interplay between appearance and concealment, rituals and intimacy and often employs the disconcerting juxtaposition of nurture and violence.

 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

SVETLA KLISAROVA

09,10,11 feb, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

Svetla, a 55-year-old artist, had always dreamt of being an artist since childhood. Despite being led into the tech industry, her heart yearned for art. She began her artistic journey at home, transforming it into a vibrant and imaginative space, which eventually gained recognition and spurred her to chase her dreams. Amidst personal transitions, she relocated to the Netherlands with her husband.

Svetla was captivated by miniatures and greatly inspired by artists like Frank Kunert and Peter Gabrielse, as well as the fantasy worlds from theatre and movies. She had a deep respect for repurposing discarded items, seeing them not as trash but as potential art pieces, thereby giving the forgotten a new voice.

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

Expositie finalisten EM STUDIO GALLERY

27 jan – 04 feb, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

De 10 finalisten en Publiekswinnaar van De Nationale Keramiekprijs 2023 krijgen een mooie (verkoop)expositie bij EM Studio Gallery in Amsterdam (www.emstudiogallery.com). Zij mogen hier van 27 januari tot en met 4 februari het kunstwerk exposeren waarmee ze de finale hebben bereikt + nog 1 extra kunstwerk. 

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

BART LUTTERS

“Whisper from Below” paintings

19 – 25 jan. 2024
OPENING on Saturday from 17:00h 
 

In his age of rapid technological progress, human beings live longer, healthier, and more efficient lives than ever. At the same time, we seem to become increasingly alienated from the profound human experiences of love, connection, compassion, suffering, and dying. Why are we doing so much better, but feeling so much worse?

In his artwork, Bart Lutters explores this modern paradox of being human in an increasingly technologized mass society. Inspired by his work as a medical doctor and a historian, Bart draws upon intuitive collage and mixed media techniques in a heartfelt attempt to restore the whispers of inherent humanity in a world that has become complex to the point of fracture.

 

Thijs Westerbeek em studio gallery

MARIEKE SIERS

12 jan – 18 january, 2024

Opening on Saturday from 16:00h

Marieke (2001) creates contemporary abstract portraits, posters and realistic black and white portraits. Since childhood, she has had a great passion for drawing and painting. When creating her artwork, she works with a combination of different techniques and materials, such as acrylic paint, soft pastel crayons, gold leaf, silver leaf and bronze leaf. She prefers to work on large canvases to give the portraits even more power. Marieke graduated as a graphic designer in 2022, after which she decided to fully pursue her passion as an artist. Her purpose is to share her love of art and creativity.

Marieke wants her art to tell its own unique story. A distinctive theme in her work is the accent she puts on hair using gold leaf, bronze leaf and silver leaf.
She was inspired by her own struggles with hair loss, which led her to wear a hairpiece.
In her paintings, Marieke transforms the insecurities that many people may experience about their hair into extra power on the canvas.

 

 

PAST EXHIBITIONS

CONTACT

EM STUDIO GALLERY
WITTE DE WITHSTRAAT 2
1057XV AMSTERDAM

CALL US
+31850470422

EMAIL US
hello@emstudiogallery.com

OPENING HOURS GALLERY
MONDAY TO SATURDAY:   12:00 - 18:00
SUNDAY: CLOSED 

DURING THE ART EXHIBITIONS
SATURDAY :   12:00 - 20:00
SUNDAY:   12:00 - 17:00

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