(2025) The older I get, the more I see that everything within me and everything around me, carries an other side. I created this work to explore that notion further. Order exists only in the presence of chaos, and chaos only in the presence of order. If one consumes the other, neither will remain. Light […]
Lees verder
(2025) During my artist residency in Polopos earlier this year, the idea came up to gift the village a present in the form of a beautiful mural. In those first few weeks in Spain, I found myself unexpectedly drawn to the Bible, even though I wasn’t raised Catholic at all. In the studio, I painted […]
Lees verder
(2025) The first two and a half months of this year, I did an artist residency in Polopos (Andalusia, Spain). It was a beautiful time. I learned a lot and came back to the Netherlands feeling richer. Not financially, but in every other way. Before leaving for Polopos, I made one promise to myself: I […]
Lees verder
(2024) The moment had finally come. The group exhibition “Symbiosis” by Gallery Barkie at Vrij Paleis. Something I had been working towards for a long time. I created a special art installation for this show, titled “MISFIT?”. With this personal piece, I once again chose to be vulnerable. There were many visitors and some beautiful […]
Lees verder
(2024) I created this floral piece on commission for a lovely private couple. It was a long process, but the result speaks for itself. What I’m especially proud of is that this artwork fully reflects my clients’ wishes, it even includes several of their personal stories, while staying completely true to my own artistic vision. […]
Lees verder
(2024) An interactive artwork that contributes to the conversation around mental health. “The Altar of the Stranded” is part of the larger production “Het Behouden Huis” by Jort Faber. Opening hours: Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 18:00 Location: De Haai, Visserseiland 214, 1621AA Hoorn A few months ago, Jort Faber (known for productions such […]
Lees verder
(2024) From April 4 to July 29, I exhibited under the banner of Gallery Barkie at Adamandco in the A’dam Tower. On May 2nd we held a re-opening with new works on display, and Onno and I (LivePaintCrew SMEER!) painted a three-meter-wide artwork live on the spot. It was a great success. There was a […]
Lees verder
(2024) On Tuesday July 2nd, I gave a speech in the city council chamber of Hoorn during a committee meeting, speaking up for art and culture in our town. You could say I stepped right into the lion’s den. The other artists of Hoorn (or at least a big part of them) had asked me […]
Lees verder
(2024) I live in a city where the local government gives subsidies to two old guys so they can buy grey paint and little rollers to cover up graffiti and stickers on power boxes. Personally, I’d rather live in a city where the municipality invests in its artists to help bring colour to the streets. […]
Lees verder
(2023) On May 20th, I gave a speech during Het Eeuwfeest. It was something I really needed to get off my chest in that moment. By popular demand, I’ve recorded this version to give it another go.
Lees verder
(2023) In the weekend of May 20th, it finally happened: Het Eeuwfeest. On Friday evening, we held a private celebration for invited guests, and on Saturday our beautiful building was open to everyone. Together with the other artists from the building, we worked incredibly hard to pull everything together and we definitely went all out. […]
Lees verder
(2023) Thank you to Gallery Barkie for the opportunity to exhibit. And a special thanks to my friends at Wallplug Records for the good vibes.
Lees verder
(2023) Performing arts, but different. You can hire us to create a large live artwork at your event. We also offer teambuilding sessions and company outings. Together with my fellow artist and friend Onno Roos, I started a real “live paint crew.” We call ourselves SMEER! You can book us for your parties and events. […]
Lees verder
(2023) Sea levels are rising. So are temperatures. And so is the tension between people. If we keep going like this, we’ll end up like the dinosaurs: extinct. If we can manage to shift selfish capitalism into a loving, circular economy, and do it fast, we might still be able to save ourselves. But it […]
Lees verder
(2023) Together with my good friend Levi Noë, I’m co-hosting a safe, open art studio for young people this year. We’re doing this in collaboration with De Blauwe Schuit (a local centre for art education) and the Dutch mental health organisation GGZ. We call the studio TOPS. Levi has a lot of experience in the […]
Lees verder
(2023) In this painting, you see the ship “De Salamander”, the vessel Jan Pieterszoon Coen used on his infamous journey to Banda, being swallowed by a giant kraken. If only that had actually happened, it could have spared the world a great deal of suffering. Jan Pieterszoon Coen was the man who, in the 17th […]
Lees verder
(2022) To be honest, I used to think that only a small, sad group of people tried to have s*x without consent. Over the past year, I realised that this view came from a place of privilege, from my position as a straight man. The truth is: it’s a massive problem. Far too many people […]
Lees verder
(2022) On the weekend of October 8 and 9, “De Dikke Show” gave, a “dikke show” once again. The municipality of Hoorn organised a festive event in honour of the Battle on the Zuiderzee. While it’s a romantic story that reminds me a bit of Asterix and Obelix, I personally don’t think it’s a great […]
Lees verder
(2022) On the final weekend of March, a special exhibition took place at the Mariakapel in Hoorn. The show featured a selection of 25 artists who live and work in Hoorn, each presenting their own work. I saw this as a great opportunity to bring back my art installation “VOGELSPOTSPOT.” During the exhibition, a special […]
Lees verder
(2021) A little while ago, I took a walk through Hoorn. Along the way, I came across a ridiculous number of racist stickers. I peeled off as many as I could. The ones that wouldn’t come off, I marked over with a permanent marker. The Friday after that, I went on another walk and passed […]
Lees verder
(2021) The library felt it was time to upgrade the upstairs reading corner. So they left it to us: Jaap Stiemer, Levi Noë, Eefje Verdonk, Lotte Laan and me. Go check it out, read a book and enjoy our art while you’re at it.
Lees verder
(2021) OranjeBuiten has a new resident: ‘the OrangeParrot’. This ‘OrangeParrot’ is old and wise and knows absolutely everything about nature. He also sees that things are heading in the wrong direction. That’s why I made him the narrator of a nature documentary. Through a series of episodes, this documentary will gradually unfold. In February 2021, […]
Lees verder
(2021) When Jerrol Lashley from Stichting Netwerk / 0229-jongeren reached out to me for a mural in the soon-to-open Talentenhuis, I didn’t have to think twice. This project was right up my alley. You can find the mural at Manifesto Hoorn. Want a painting on your wall too? Just send me a message!
Lees verder
(2021) In collaboration with the Hoorn public library and a few fellow creatives, I designed a beautiful library tote bag. There are four different designs: one by Levi Noë (city poet), one by Lotte Laan (poet), one by “Eventjeseefje” (poet), and one by my own hand. You can pick one up for just €3 at […]
Lees verder
(2021) Slijs has the dopest pizza boxes in the country. Each new batch “exhibits” a different artist on the box. And when you hang the box on your wall instead of throwing it out, it basically gets recycled into wall art. That makes them eco-friendly pizza boxes. Sydney Groot and Joost van der Want know […]
Lees verder
(2020) When my grandfather passed away in early 2020 and a pandemic broke out shortly after, my grandmother ended up all alone in a family house. I felt so bad for her that I decided to paint flowers for her. That way, I could still give her a bouquet without risking her health. While I […]
Lees verder
(2020) Together with Jaap Stiemer, “Lottelaandicht”, “Eventjeseefje”, Levi Noë and the local library, I took the initiative to lift at least a hundred people’s spirits during these tough times. The idea was mine, and I took the lead on the project. It wasn’t always easy, we faced quite a few obstacles along the way, but […]
Lees verder
(2020) During the Dutch Week Against Loneliness, I took part in a group exhibition about, or rather against, loneliness at Sexyland on the NDSM-werf in Amsterdam. Special thanks to the organisers, Nanine van Smoorenburg and Ka-Tjun Hau.
Lees verder
2020) Group exhibition with fellow “young” artists from the wider region at the pop-up museum Expoost, located at the Roode Steen in Hoorn. Together with Eefje Verdonk, Nalim Kawon, Roy Valentijn, Onno Roos and Tommie Roos, we created a beautiful show.
Lees verder
(2020) The prologue below is an autobiographical story and serves as a kind of introduction to my visual work. In the accompanying paintings, you see me slowly transforming into this Black Crow. Translation of the prologue: Years ago, not far from here a boy died.It was a whole lot of misery. But because the boy […]
Lees verder
(2020) Especially for an exhibition at De Boterhal, I created my largest artwork to date. I call it “VOGELSPOTSPOT”. The installation is 4.75 meters wide, 2.5 meters tall, and consists of 21 bird portraits and a few binoculars. The idea is that, through these binoculars, you can get to know your neighbours, the birds, a […]
Lees verder
(2018) For the first time, I got to officially join De “Dikke Show”. This summer, artist Boxie asked me if I wanted to become the youngest member of De DIKKE SHOW. My answer was a wholehearted “Yes!” I consider it an honour to be part of this group. De “Dikke Show” is a Hoorn-based artist […]
Lees verder
(2019) Not too long ago, I was out on the street smoking joints while people walked in a wide circle past me. And now, just a few years later — BAMMMMM — I’m in a book. Hard work pays off. This past summer, I was approached by the publisher of the “Typisch” book series. They […]
Lees verder
(2019) In 2011, I left OSG West-Friesland early without a diploma. Slowly but surely, I grew into the artist I am today. Eight years later, the school created an inspiration wall in honour of its 150th anniversary. And with quiet pride, I can say that I’m one of ten former students who now has a […]
Lees verder
(2019) I’m proud and grateful to say that I gave EVERY SINGLE CHILD at SBO De Wissel my workshop: “Colouring Outside the Lines with STHOM.” Through a short video, I invited the kids to come and colour outside the lines in my studio. And that’s exactly what happened. Over the course of two days, the […]
Lees verder
(2018) Back when I was still a street kid, we were welcome nowhere. Too young for the trendy bars, too loud for home. So we went looking for good places to hang out; somewhere sheltered from the wind and rain, where we could enjoy a joint and a beer in peace. No matter how hard […]
Lees verder
(2018) We buy way too much crap. What was your last polluting and pointless purchase? Despite how this chair looks, it’s actually pretty comfy.
Lees verder
(2018) People always say you need to “think outside the box,” but honestly, these days it might be more outside the box to just think inside the box. Here are my thoughts, inside a box. Five cardboard boxes, lined on the inside with black-painted greyboard.
Lees verder
(2017) Maybe it’s not such a bad idea that cigarette and rolling tobacco packages come with written health warnings. What I do find strange is that the same doesn’t apply to products full of sugar, fat or alcohol. And now, on top of that, cigarette packs are covered in extremely graphic and disturbing images. To […]
Lees verder
There was a time when I wasn’t really painting yet. Back then, writing was my thing. I was some kind of street poet. Many of my texts could be found on the streets of Hoorn; sometimes full poems, but mostly short, funny lines. “Was ik maar een bloemetje” (I wish I was a flower) even […]
Lees verder
