Cornelis Rijken

Cornelis J. Rijken was born 8th September 1951 in Waalwijk in the southern Netherlands.
Art as a profession was a later choice and abstract art his main field of expression.
Initially Cornelis dedicated himself to painting. His main acrylic works belong to the 90s and, characterised by a very fine chromatic balance, represent a continuous flow of thinking and stories. The author defines his style as “lyric abstract”.
However Cornelis’ need to extend his research led him to explore the third dimension offered by sculpture. He immediately found that this art form allowed him to articulate his own reality as never before.
Moreover, sculpture requires a different approach to a project. In order to make the invisible (i.e. thought) visible he has used stone and metal to probe deeper levels of self-awareness and observe the complexity of the mind. His goal is to capture the very essence of human life. Every work of art is the result of this process.
As he likes to state: “Simple is the most difficult.”
And simplicity invites one to look for hidden meanings in shape. But Cornelis’ main characteristic is the willpower to tackle and solve the challenge presented by new materials and their crafting.
He has also drawn inspiration from...

He attended the Akademie St. Joost in Breda, where, in 1987, he obtained his degree in monumental sculpture and painting.

2025 – 2007_ SCULPTURE GARDEN in the artist’s residence, Porcaticcio di Sopra, Casola Valsenio, Italy

2014 _ PJOTR GALERIE, Tilburg. “Symbolische Urnen”
2012 _FONDAZIONE TONINO GOTTARELLI, Imola, Italy. “alterVista”
2011 _ FONDAZIONE ORIANI, Ravenna, Italy. “The shape of thoughts / La forma dei pensieri”
2009 _ CASOLA VALSENIO (RA), Italy. “Senso e forma”
2009 _ MARINA DI RAVENNA HARBOUR, Italy.“La Porta del Pensiero”, public sculpture
2008 _ GALLERIA GUTENBERG AL COLOSSEO, Rome, Italy. “Riflessioni”. First exhibition in Italy
2006 _ NIEUW BEERENBURGHT, Eck en Wiel
2005 _ SARAYALAR SYMPOSIUM, Turkey
2005 _ DEMEDICI B.K., Nunspeet
2004 _ PJOTR GALERIE, Tilburg
2004 _ GALERIE DE STIP, Heusden
2003 _ GALERIE 31 VOLT, Amsterdam
2003 _ NATUUR EN SCULPTUUR, Hoge Hees, Eersel
2002 _ GALERIE ADRIAANS, Helmond
2002 _ SVE DAME, Auroville, India
2001 _ BEELDEN IN DE HERFST, Delfgauw
2001 _ ARTEVENT, Helmond
2001 _ EAST-WEST, New Delhi, India
2000 _ BEELDEN IN DE HERFST, Delfgauw
2000 _ JAPAN-NEDERLAND 400, Pjotr, Tilburg
1999 _ GALERIE PJOTR, Tilburg
1998 _ BOOM EN BEELD, SCHOVENHORST, Putten
1997 _ ONTMOETING, SBKD Heusden
1997 _ BURO VAN HASSELT, Oosterhout
1996 _ DRUNENSE KUNSTENAARS, SBKD Heusden
1996 _ GALERIE AN SENGERS, Hedikhuizen
19...