Collin van der Sluijs

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Art

A New Collection of Works by Collin van der Sluijs Channels a Dreamlike Collision of Emotion

In one of his most ambitious bodies of work to date, artist Collin van der Sluijs (previously) references two forces being incidentally forced together. “These strange times have caused a collision between me as a person and my work,” he shares, “I want to be free and not a puppet on strings directed by anybody.”

This sentiment pervades the Dutch artist’s latest collection opening this week at both Vertical Gallery and Vertical Project Space in Chicago. Aptly titled Collision, the solo show is broad in medium and subject matter, containing 15 canvas paintings, 12 on panel, and more than 50 works on paper. Similar to his earlier pieces, this collection harnesses van der Sluijs’s signature dreamlike style, whether through depictions of nature’s most ethereal qualities or frenzied mishmashes of brushstrokes and smaller, more realistic elements. The works include emotionally chaotic portraits, serene renderings of singular birds, and dense landscapes in which life and death converge.

Collision runs from July 9 to 30. While in Chicago, van der Sluijs will also create a few murals, which you can follow on Instagram.

 

Art

Chaotic Swarms of Flowers and Birds Inhabit New Paintings by Collin van der Sluijs

In his latest solo exhibition, No Concessions, Collin van der Sluijs (previously) combined acrylic, ink, and spray paint to produce dreamlike portraits of invented characters who each interact with chaotic elements of nature. A skeleton wearing a small brimmed hat extends a hand to a pair of airborne birds, while a mass of flowers and vines consume the head of a suited figure like a locust swarm. Chaos is also seen in the works without human subjects, such as his work Spring which showcases two rabbits dueling over a roaring flame.

No Concessions runs through June 23, 2018 at Vertical Gallery in Chicago. You can see a combination of van der Sluijs’s street art and gallery exhibitions on his Instagram.

Art

Giant Starling Mural in Berlin by Collin van der Sluijs and Super A

Netherlands-based artists Super A (previously) and Collin van der Sluijs (previously) teamed up earlier this year to paint this phenomenal mural titled Starling on the side of a residential building in Berlin. The 137-foot-tall mural piece depicts a large bird whose ornate chest is comprised of a dense patchwork of glistening jewels and plants. Starling was created at the invitation of Urban Nation as part of the One Wall Mural Project. All photos by Nika Kramer. (via StreetArtNews, BerlijnBlog.nl, Urban Nation)

Art

An Explosive New Mural and Paintings by Collin van der Sluijs

From the smallest details expressed on canvas to the cracked facade of a multi-story building, Dutch artist Collin van der Sluijs is comfortable investigating what he refers to as “personal pleasures and struggles in daily life.” Working without sketches or notes, the artist dives into each artwork with spray paint, acrylics, and ink as ideas take hold and images slowly emerge. He frequently examines themes of the natural world such as the cycle of life, the depictions of various species of birds, and the psychology of beings both human and animalistic.

Van der Sluijs was most recently in Chicago where he completed a tremendous mural in the south loop as part of the Wabash Arts Corridor that depicts two endangered Illinois birds amongst an explosion of blooms. He also opened his first solo show in the U.S. titled “Luctor Et Emergo” at Vertical Gallery, featuring a wide range of paintings and drawings. You can follow more of his work on Flickr.