Historically, ceramics, much like textile art, often went unrecognised as a legitimate art form, partly due to its association with ‘women's work' and traditional crafts. These disciplines were predominantly the domain of women, leading to their marginalisation within a male-dominated art world. However, the field is now open to new experiments, and the medium has been in the limelight for some time now.

Photo: Geoffrey Fritsch

Loïc Van Zeebroek’s paintings explore the construction of images, moving seamlessly between abstraction and figuration. His work evokes a sense of emptiness — a serene, pressure-free space that invites reflection. By carefully selecting what to include and what to omit, he creates contemplative spaces within the traditional medium of painting. His inspiration stems from romantic landscape painting and both self-made and found educational geographic imagery. Stripped of their original context and meaning, these sources give rise to new, imaginative spaces. His work is included in notable collections such as Museum Voorlinden and SMAK.

Charlotte Vandenbroucke’s paintings captivate through their layered complexity and inherent ambiguity. With a unique interpretation of abstract visual language, she crafts spaces that balance emptiness and intensity, light and shadow, and the contrast between the lightness and weight of existence. Her work blends subtle colour gradients with distinctive textures and unusual materials, such as graphite powder, resulting in paintings that exude both warmth and restraint. Her pieces reflect a deeply personal response to the complex emotions and events that define life. They function as visual poems, distilling life’s big themes into forms where every viewer can find their own perspective.

Whilst skewed towards photography, with work by Dutch artists including Viviane Sassen and Awoiska van der Molen and international artists including Pieter Hugo and  Micheal Wolf, the accumulation also includes traditional paint on canvas, including work by Katinka Lempe and Esiri Erheriene-Essi, sculptural work from the likes of Hans op de Beeck and Adam Jeppesen, conceptual works and even sound pieces.
 
They are often asked what is the ‘red line’ that connects the art that they have. For many years they struggled to answer this question. However, looking holistically, through their apartment, visitors will notice that the portrayal of people and the absence of people are themes the unite the collection/accumulation.

Img. A typical corner in Nigel and Lorraine’s apartment with work by Paul Richard, Marjolein Rothman, Wang Zi Wong, Navid Nuur, Studio Drift, Koos Booster, Gijs Assmann and Tracey Snelling.

But behind the white cube of the gallery walls and the polished name cards lies a more profound question: who gets to create, participate, and belong? What are the barriers to not only enter the art world but also thrive within it? How are the boundaries of access, recognition, and visibility shaped?


Together with SPUI25, we delve  into the systemic and personal challenges that may arise for cultural professionals who are about to enter the field. This program aims to identify critical issues and propose actionable solutions for cultural practitioners aiming to navigate and reshape the art world. Together with a number of guest speakers from within the field, we will focus on addressing these barriers and ways to overcome those. The evening will include a brief masterclass on the innerworkings of the art world and how you can secure your spot right at the centre of it.  



Access Granted? Breaking In and Breaking Down the Art World is for anyone who is curious to learn more about the inner workings of the art world or has questions on where to start after graduating with a humanities degree. How can we examine the interplay between who participates and how spaces are accessed? What are the ways in which we can nurture a creative ecosystem where individual and collective voices can thrive and feel welcomed? Together, we will imagine an art world that breaks boundaries, fosters dialogue, and welcomes all to create, experience, and belong.

Paper art is intimate – often smaller in scale, it truly reflects the artist’s hand. As a viewer, you come face to face with the creative process, which makes the work feel deeply personal. Plus, it’s often relatively affordable. During our exclusive highlight tour, we’ll shine a spotlight on five selected works, offering insights into the stories behind the pieces, as well as the techniques and materials used. After the tour, you’re free to explore the fair at your own pace and browse more than 40 stands featuring galleries from both the Netherlands and abroad.

His fascination with decay and the memories embedded within materials results in raw, experimental works in which time, space, life and death converge. His work is currently on view at Buro Stedelijk, and last year he was a resident at the prestigious Rijksakademie.

A studio visit offers the ultimate opportunity to truly get to know an artist — not just through their work, but by gaining insight into their thought process, the materials they experiment with, and the stories behind their practice. Inside the studio, you'll get a unique glimpse into Toloku’s artistic journey and discover how his ideas take shape, evolve and ultimately come to life.

Our four-day program includes a.o. visits to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz Mocaa), the largest museum on the African contintent, studio visits with Cape Town-based artists and a wine tasting and art tour at the Spier Wine Farm in Stellenbosch, about 30 minutes outside of Cape Town. The Spier Collection is South Africa's largest collection of contemporary art. This trip will take place Feb. 20-23, 2025.

More information on travel, lodging and costs can be found here.

One of the cities most impressive art venues is Zuzeum, originally a cork factory that site been reborn into the hippest art space in Riga. It hosts the private collection of art collector couple Jānis and Dina Zuzāni, showcasing works that span from the 19th century to the present. During our walks in the city we will encounter lots of street art as well, as the city is knows for its colorful murals. A group dinner and welcome drink are included in our program.

Deadline for registration: February 1.
 More information about the program, registration and costs can be found here.