Arjen
Arjen investigates the possibilities in the space between minimalism and surrealism. His practice is as much related to work of Salvador Dali as it is to the work of Mondrian. Arjen builds on the idea of cubism which he evolves towards an organic unity, while leaving out everything that is not essential.
Arjen uses an articulated visual language. The works have their own atmosphere. Some are humorous, some are elegant and serene while others can be more tantalizing.
“When you leave out a line, automatically all the other lines become more important.”
His oil paintings are based on sketches in which he improvises with elements of the human body, geometrical forms and assorted other features. The interaction between all these elements, in unusual formations, sometimes leads to indescribable associations. In contrast to the irrational content, he rigorously finetunes his sketches into a compositionally balanced and formally logical result.
The paint is applied smoothly, with minimal visible brush strokes. The color gradients are very fluent and subtle which increase the feeling of depth and space, without distracting from the image on the canvas.
Arjen was born in the Netherlands. He is strongly influenced by the old masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer. His work also draws from the principles of Dutch Design, which is characterized as minimalistic, experimental, innovative, quirky and humorous.
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2023
November 4 - December 16
The joy of the incomprehensible’ at the Richard Heller Gallery (Santa Monica)September 4 - October
‘Post Picasso show’. A groupshow with a work of Pablo Picasso at the Gallery Mayoral (Paris)June 2 - July 29
‘A Party of Moods’. A small solo presentation at the Stems Gallery (Paris)May
TEFAF New York with Gallery MayoralMarch
Art Paris with Gallery MayoralMarch
TEFAF Maastricht with Gallery MayoralJanuary
Art Geneva with Gallery Mayoral2022
December
Untitled art fair with Richard Heller GalleryNovember
Art Cologne with Gallery MayoralOctober
Phillips private sale (curated by Angeliki Kim Perfetti)October
Sketches at Marian Cramer Gallery (Paris)September
KIAF art fair (Seoul)August
Enter art fair (Denmark)July
Limited edition with exhibition AJuly
CAN art fair with Marian Cramer Gallery (Ibiza)April
Expo Chicago with Richard Heller GalleryApril
Misa art fair (Berlin)March
24 hour edition with MisaJanuary
Group show at Marian Cramer Gallery (Amsterdam)2021
December
Untitled art fair Miami with Richard HellerDecember
Group show ‘Satellite of love’ at Richard Heller GalleryOctober
Online group show by Artistellar (curated by Adele Smejkal)October
Group show at Août Gallery (Beirut)October
Group show ‘universes 4’ curated by Sasha Bogojev