Albert Zwaan
Dordrecht, Zuid Holland, Netherlands
About Albert Zwaan
Albert Zwaan paints urban landscapes. Desolate-looking buildings, surrounded by a lush landscape or abstract, decorative patterns. Landscapes without any people in them. For Zwaan, painting is all about the proper proportions: the contrasts and harmonies between the various colours, the forms and use of paint are all reconsidered with every new canvas.
Zwaan has a striking palette in which soft, pastel shades are dominant. Colours reminiscent of cartoons, graffiti, and weathered paint in old shipyards. In Berlin he saw gray East German GDR flats that were painted over in pastel shades in an attempt to give them a softer look. Or maybe he simply uses these colours because he likes them.
While painting, Zwaan listens to electronic music: ambient, minimal, German avant-garde. Its energy perfectly matches his painting; he combines images the way a DJ samples sound fragments. He also draws from art history: the expressionist touch of Francesco Goya and El Greco, the resplendent clouds of Philip Koninck; they are mixed with stills from commercials, images from shop windows and logos.
In his teenage years, Zwaan used to be a graffiti artist. He felt at home at the abandoned marshalling yards with concrete sound walls, where he walked around at night with his bag of spray cans. Even now, as a painter, he has a sharp eye for the beauty of the city fringes. Albert Zwaan transforms the gritty post-industrial urban environment into a friendly coloured dream world.
Anneke van Wolfswinkel
Education:
BA, Academy of Fine Arts Breda, Netherlands 1994/1999
Exhibitions:
Curriculum Vitae
Education
1995/1999 Academy of Fine Arts, Breda Netherlands (cum laude)
2001 Post St Joost, “Master of Art Program” Breda
*
Prizes
2003 De Scheffer
2003 Rabobank Picturaprijs
2004 Pictura – Publieksprijs
2004 Royal Award Koninklijke Prijs voor Vrije Schilderkunst (nomination)
*
Stipendia
2016 Toekenning Werkbijdrage Bewezen Talent - Mondriaan Fonds
2015 Toekenning projectsubsidie Gemeente Dordrecht
2008 Toekenning werkbeurs CBK Dordrecht (opgeheven)
2005 Toekenning Basisstipendium Fonds BKVB
*
Artist in residence
2017 Gastatelier Museum Vincent van Goghhuis Zundert
2006 Artist in residence (6 months) Kunstfabrik am Flußgraben Berlin Treptow
*
Exhibitions
2019 Vincent inspireert - Vincent van GoghHuis Zundert (group.)
2018 De Grote Portretten Galerij/De Dordtse Synode, Pictura (group.)
2018 Open Expo Vruchtbare Grond - Stedelijk Museum Schiedam (group.)
2018 Anonyme Zeichner - Galerie im Körnerpark, Berlin (group.)
2018 Cityscapes - Pictura (solo.)
2018 De Ketelfactory - The eye is the centre/Magnify me (group.)
2018 PARK Tilburg “139 X NOTHING BUT GOOD” (group.)
2017 We Like Art! / Secret Postcard Sale - Westergasfabriek Amsterdam (group.)
2017 In de voetsporen van, van Gogh - Van GoghGalerie Zundert (solo.)
2017 Pictura Dordrecht “Salon Der Leden/Picturaprijs” (group.)
2017 Vincent van GoghHuis, Zundert “werkperiode gastatelier“
2017 House Of Animals Amsterdam “Art For Animals Sake” (group.)
2017 Appel Solo ‘Galerie Nasty Alice, Kazerne Eindhoven (solo)
2017 “ARCHITELEKTRO” Galerie Nasty Alice (solo.)
2017 De Kazerne Eindhoven - APPEL’ - Galerie Nasty Alice (group.)
2017 Art Rotterdam van Nellefabriek Intersections Patty Morgan
2016 WTC Gallery Rotterdam OUT OF THE BLACK (group.)
2016 We Like Art ! LUST FOR LIFE - Painting Today, Westergasfabriek Amsterdam (group.)
2016 Atrium City Hall, The Hague THE SURVIVORS (group.)
2016 Galerie Nasty Alice, Eindhoven ‘Fata Morgana’ (group.)
2015 This Art Fair, Beurs van Berlage Amsterdam (solo stand.)
2015 Refine Art @ Masters Of LXRY, Rai Amsterdam (group.)
2015 TETEM kunstruimte Enschede ‘Size Matters’ We Like Art (group.)
2015 Schöne Aussichten - Vestische Künstlerbund Recklinghausen (group.)
2015 Salon der leden/Picturaprijs Teekengenootschap Pictura Dordrecht
2015 Lanceringsfeest/expositie Refine Art @ VondelCS Amsterdam (group.)
2015 Galerie Helder, Den Haag “HYBRIDS” (group.)
2015 Circa’dit Project Space Arnhem “ Full Swing” (group.)
2014 Art In Redlight Art Fair Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam (solo.)
2014 Circa’dit Project Space Arnhem “De kant van Zwaan” (solo.)
2014 Galerie Berggreen Fredericia (DK) (group.)
2014 Kasteel Keukenhof Art Foundation, Lisse “De Hommage” (group.)
2014 Pictura Dordrecht “200 jaar schilderkunst 200 jaar koninkrijk” (group.)
2014 Galerie Witt Dordrecht “Stadslandschappen” (solo.)
2014 SBK Dordrecht “Growing Up In A Small Town” (group.)
2014 Open Atelierroute Dordrecht
2014 KIV22 (Baracca) Dordrecht Fuck the 80′s it is 2014 (group.)
2014 Art Rotterdam “We Like Art!” (group.)
2013 Kadmium Delft “Where Are We” (group.)
2013 Galerie Wegert & Sadocco, Winkel “Urban Landscapes” (group.)
2013 Teekengenootschap Pictura , Dordrecht“Ledensalon”
2013 Re: Rotterdam Artfair (solo.)
2012 Teekengenootschap Pictura “Ledensalon”
2012 Appels Gallery Amsterdam i.c.w. “Art Initiative Verfhond” (group.)
2011 Galerie Ayacs, Amsterdam “Winterparade” (group.)
2011 Museum De Koperen Knop Hardinxveld-Giessendam “Stad & Landschap” (group.)
2011 Galerie 14-16 Posthuys Texel-De Koog (solo)
2010 CBK Dordrecht “Tapetenwechsel/Blick Ohne Ende” (group.)
2010 Teekengenootschap Pictura “Ledensalon” (group.)
2010 Baracca Den Haag “Paint Or Death” Hoogtij#23″ (group..)
2010 Boven’s Gallery Amsterdam i.s.m. Art Initiative Verfhond Verfzucht#4 Painterly Intigue” (group.)
2010 CBK Groningen i.c.w. SBK Amsterdam “Nieuwe Uitleenschatten” (group.)
2010 Galerie Ayacs, Amsterdam “Summer Surprise” (group.)
2010 SBK Breda, Duotentoonstelling with Toon Berghahn (duo
