Jan Giliam

"I find inspiration in my world of associations and my environment, like the forest, the city life, people, diving and all the bright colours underwater.

Ensuing gestures and colour choice dictate the images that arise. I work out these images, drawing whatever presents itself to me, with no goal other than transmitting the impulse or desire of the moment, in an écriture automatique. The very moment of metamorphosis appeals to me; when drawing a line, I follow the process. I let the line transform.

I make my drawings and paintings mostly on paper and on glass.

When making a drawing on paper I use my favourite Karisma color pencils and mostly smooth heavy weight paper from responsible sources.

Working with glass makes it possible for me to play with light and shadow, my drawings become vivid.
Using a kiln I fuse different layers of glass at high temperatures. To reduce the ecological footprint I like to use up-cycle glass, like old window panes and bottles."

Jan Giliam
(1965, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Jan Giliam wants to open up culture through concepts, conversations and aesthetics.
He uses his own visual language (his drawings, paintings and glass works) to tighten and, when possible, to deploy. His work thus acts as a membrane: two poles, one aesthetic and singular, the other interactive and communicative. And for that he works in his studio in Amsterdam, as well as a STEAM teacher at a special educational needs school, challenging children to explore creativity.


He studied Arts, Education and Mathematics in Amsterdam (NL) and graduated in 1988. To improve and refresh his skills he went to the Digital Pioneers Academy for innovative Internet initiatives in 2007 and graduated from the Amsterdam Gameskool in Game Design and Education in 2010.

To master the art of glass fusion, Giliam followed classes at the Bohle Glass Academy in Germany, after which he took private lessons from the Dutch glass artist Bert Grotjohann. During the Glass Heap Challenge 2014 in Eindhoven he met the Swiss artist Daniel Gaemperle. The challenge to make art from used glass inspired Giliam to use heat resistant markers to draw on used windows, bottles and glass-panels and fuse his drawings into glass.

2020: 'Solo-exhibition Jan Giliam', Stichting Leger Diorama Wereld, (Fort Honswijk, The Netherlands)
2019: 'Las llaves del deseo', (Panama)
2019: '100 años de surrealismo', Centro Cultural Espacio Matta, (Santiago de Chile, Chile)
2018: 'Exhibition of Green Men', (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
2018: 'CAPA', Galerie Art2, (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
2017: 'Rik Lina + Jan Giliam', CAPA Pop Up Gallery, (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
2016: 'Group exhibition A Luz Dos Castelos Envidraçados', (Figueira da Foz, Portugal)
2016: 'Group exhibition Las Llaves del Deseo - Surrealismo Internacional', La Biblioteca Nacional (Costa Rica)
2016: 'Group exhibition Las Llaves del Deseo Surrealismo Internacional', Museo Municipal de Cartago, (Costa Rica)
2014: 'Daniel Gaemperle (CH) meets Jan Giliam, exhibition of 14 pieces of collaborative painting on glass', Beeldenstorm studio's, (Eindhoven, The Netherlands)
2014: 'The Glass Heap Challenge, Up-cycled Glass Art Exhibition, Dutch Design Week 2014', (Eindhoven, The Netherlands)
2013: 'International Exhibition of Kilnformed Glass Sculptures', (Joure, The Netherlands)
2012: 'Collective work: Para Montante das Fontes - Dedicated to the group Colectivo The Cabo Mondego Section Of Portuguese Surre...