Bastiaen Vries

Bastiaen Vries is a portrait painter based in Amsterdam. In his work, he explores expression, character, and the person behind the face.

From 2024 to 2026, Bastiaen has been a member of the art group ‘Masters of Realism’ and has taken part in several group exhibitions with the collective. He will leave the group at the end of 2026. In 2024 his work was exhibited at the Chianciano Art Biennale in Italy. In 2023, he was invited to participate in the London Art Biennale, where he received the Chianciano Museum Award.

In 2022, he gained wider recognition through his participation in the television programme ‘Sterren op het Doek’ (Stars on Canvas). In the episode featuring Rob Kemps, his portrait was selected as the winner. That same year, he was ranked among the top 10 in the ‘Painting of the Year 2022’ competition. He also exhibited at the biennial ‘Weekend of the Portrait’, organised by the Dutch Portrait Prize Foundation.

Before focusing more fully on painting, Bastiaen worked as a head designer in the fashion industry. His education at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute played a significant role in his artistic development, particularly through its emphasis on life drawing and creative techniques. To deepen his focus on portraiture...

Various studies and courses.
Bachelor Fashion Design Academy Amsterdam

2023 London Art Biennale with painting ‘Adam, portrait of a boy’

2022 Painting of the year 2022: painting ‘Adam’ at Art Eindhoven


2022 Foundation Dutch Portrait Prize, ‘Sacha, my mother’ exhibited at Weekend of the Portrait 2022

2022 Italian Cultural Institute Amsterdam: presentation of pastel drawing ‘Pier Paolo Pasolini’

2022 Art Space Milano: two paintings for the virtual exhibition ‘All you need is Art’

2022 Sound Light Colour Art Space: three paintings exhibited at private event