Meet Marthijn de Groot

About

His art is an inseparable part of his personality and lifestyle. It provides a distillation of his life history. Each work refers to a stage in the life of the artist and his experiences.

From a life which seemed doomed to be played out in the shadows or darkness, the artist has struggled towards the light. His expressionistic style of painting reveals the urge to manifest itself. The unconsciousness becomes the center of his works. Figurative elements rise in a suggestive way from the colors and the form of the lines. Painting for him, is a spontaneous action, in which he integrates elements of his past and present life, as thoughts, experiences, exchanges. Handwritten scripts, former drawings, child paintings, creatures half-human, half-animal make his paintings abstract-lyrical, strong and flamboyant color sets expressive and mystic. Painting is also orchestrating for Marthijn de Groot. How two dimensional the canvas may be, the artist knows how to create a lively spectacle, an overwhelming opera finale, an orgasm of paint, an apotheosis in which extremes meet.

Marthijn de Groot works as a ceramist as well. Therewith he can change his way of expression and realize three-dimensional drawings in sculptures. He does works, which he calls “walls”, ceramic bowls and abstract figures. Heaven and hell, light and dark, man and women, life and death, beauty and decay, absolute silence and terrifying screams come face to face. Painting is thinking and working in extremes.

Work

Painting as a distillation of his life history. Fragments of the tormented child’s spirit appear time and again in Marthijn de Groot’s world of perception. The child looking for protection is now an adult painter who wants to offer protection. Both elements appear in the paintings and the drawings, fighting for precedence or looking for a golden mean, resolution of conflicts, seeking harmony, balance and a new unity.

In his imagery Marthijn de Groot shows himself to be a passionate. Emotional involvement is in every fibre of his being. ‘I am a rebel rooted in love.’ He is artist, philosopher and lover with a sensitive, critical and social mind. His philosophy, honesty and conviction are the source of his work.

Studies

Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
Minerva Academy, Groningen
1993 – Master Degree in Free Arts
2001 – Master in Intercultural NLP, Institute of Social Engineering Hulshorst

Books

2019 – The white book – Marthijn 50 years
2010 – Autumn in New York
2007 – Rare Kwasten, Publique, Emmen
2006 – Lekker Schilderen, Tirion
1998 – Richting Licht, NMP, Amsterdam

Exhibitions

2024 – Naarden the Artfair, Gallery de Ruimte, NL
2024 – Expositie Bontenbal wijnen, Rotterdam, NL
2024 – Primus expositie, Sille Gallery, Oudewater, NL
2023 – Expositie Bontenbal wijnen, Rotterdam, NL
2023 – Najaarsexpositie, Sille Gallery, Oudewater, NL
2022 – Expositie Bontenbal wijnen, Rotterdam, NL
2021 – Contrast – The Living Gallery, IJsselstein, NL
2021 – Beeldentuin Het Zwarte Gat, Oostvoorne, NL
2017 – Thiessen Wijnkopers, Maastricht, NL
2017 – Tefaf Lounge, Maastricht, NL
2015 – Private Exhibition, Amsterdam, NL
2013 – Retrospective 25 Years Artist, CBK Emmen, NL
2011 – Château Les Merles, Tuilières, France
2011 – Centre Des Arts Le Cariol, Naussannes, France
2011 – Moulin de Larroque, Couze, France
2010 – Galerie Walter, Bonn, Germany
2009 – Gallery Centre des Arts Le Cariol, Naussannes, France
2009 – Château Les Merles, Tuilières, France
2008 – Château Les Merles, Tuilières, France
2007 – CVITES, Emmen, NL
2006 – Paleis Het Loo, Apeldoorn, NL
2003 – Gallery de Omgeving, Borger, NL
2001 – MCT Hilton Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
2000 – Articoll Gallery, Hoogezand, NL
2000 – Boys Toys, San Francisco, USA
2000 – Foundation Beeldende Kunst, Community Veendam, NL
1999 – Sam & Adele Golden Foundation, New York, USA
1999 – Univé Insurance, Emmen, NL
1999 – Artissimo, Apeldoorn, NL
1999 – Gallery De Kamer, Emmen, NL
1998 – Articoll Gallery, Hoogezand, NL
1998 – Harry Denton’s Starlight Room, San Francisco, USA
1997 – Kreishaus, Nordhorn, Germany
1996 – Waterdrager, City Groningen, NL
1996 – Community Partnerships, Amsterdam, NL
1994 – Gallery Woppies Deel, Gramsbergen, NL
1994 – Gallery Torch , Amsterdam, NL
1994 – Hermitage Arts, Amsterdam, NL
1994 – Hôtel de Ville, Neufchâteau, France
1993 – Gallery Espace, Saint Ambroix, France
1992 – Gallery Krabbedans, Eindhoven, NL
1992 – Gallery Dijk 1, Alkmaar, NL
1992 – Metro Gallery, Borger, NL
1991 – Center of ceramics Rooyart, Venray, NL
1991 – Bruggebouw, Community Emmen, NL
1990 – Gallery Dijk 1 , Alkmaar, NL

Performances

2023 – Piano Concert, Magische Winterweilanden, IJsselstein, NL
2023 – Art Performance, le Couderc, FR
2019 – CD presentation with Michiel Borstlap, NL
2017 – In Vino Veritas UBS Bank, Maastricht, NL
2016 – Rooftop Painting Adam Tower, Amsterdam, NL
2016 – Art Performance with Michiel Borstlap, Tefaf, Maastricht, NL
2013 – Music and Art Performance, CBK Emmen, NL
2011 – Keynote MCT, Istanbul, Turkey
2010 – Central Park, New York, USA
2009 – Art Performance with Michael Borstlap, Château Les Merles, France
2008 – Art Performance, Centre des Arts Le Cariol, France
2008 – Art Performance, Foundations Wings of Support KLM, Amsterdam, NL
2008 – Art Performance, Marlise Colours, Shanghai, China
2007 – Linescape for Souleyman, Foundation for refugees, NL
2006 – Art Performance, Linescape for Rembrandt, Amsterdam, NL
2005 – High Tea Performance with Frans Haks, NL
2005 – Art Performance, Opera Inescape, Amsterdam, NL
2000 – Art Performance Management Center Turkey, World Premiere Conference Painting, Turkey
2000 – Boys Toys Performances, Broadway San Francisco, USA
1999 – Starlight Performances at Harry Denton’s, San Francisco, USA
1993 – IT performances, Amsterdam, NL
2000 – Boys Toys, San Francisco, USA
2000 – Foundation Beeldende Kunst, Community Veendam, NL
1999 – Sam & Adele Golden Foundation, New York, USA
1999 – Univé Insurance, Emmen, NL
1999 – Artissimo, Apeldoorn, NL
1999 – Gallery De Kamer, Emmen, NL
1998 – Articoll Gallery, Hoogezand, NL
1998 – Harry Denton’s Starlight Room, San Francisco, USA
1997 – Kreishaus, Nordhorn, Germany
1996 – Waterdrager, City Groningen, NL
1996 – Community Partnerships, Amsterdam, NL
1994 – Gallery Woppies Deel, Gramsbergen, NL
1994 – Gallery Torch , Amsterdam, NL
1994 – Hermitage Arts, Amsterdam, NL
1994 – Hôtel de Ville, Neufchâteau, France
1993 – Gallery Espace, Saint Ambroix, France
1992 – Gallery Krabbedans, Eindhoven, NL
1992 – Gallery Dijk 1, Alkmaar, NL
1992 – Metro Gallery, Borger, NL
1991 – Center of ceramics Rooyart, Venray, NL
1991 – Bruggebouw, Community Emmen, NL
1990 – Gallery Dijk 1 , Alkmaar, NL

Projects

2018 – Recording piano album “The Compassion Suits”
2018 – Interior Design Project EARTH, private house, Rotterdam
2017 – Interior Design for Martin & Lewis, Amsterdam, NL
2010 – NYC 2010, USA
2008 – Creation of the Centre des Arts Le Cariol, France
2007 – CVITES, Foundation Rare Kwasten – Artproject, Emmen, NL
2006 – Orphan house project, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2005 – Diversity Project: Community of Rotterdam, with the paintings ‘People’, NL
2004 – Homelessness art project in Nieuw Amsterdam, NL
2000 – Talent Event: Community Rotterdam, with ‘Huge multimedia painting’, NL
1997 – Art project in the Gaza Strip, on the invitation of the family Arafat/Fathi Arafat with Maya Wildevuur NPS/NOVA documentary, Palestina
1997 – Tour de France drawing project on the invitation of NOS, France
1997 – Art project ’The battle by Ane’ on invitation of art foundation Beeldenroute Het Vechtdal, NL
1993 – Algardo, project with young people on invitation of Community of The Hague, Montauban, France
1992 – The Butterfly Blues: Action Painting, St Blues & Jazz, Emmen, NL

Ateliers

2019 – 2023 – Atelier The Living Gallery, IJsselstein, NL
2008 – 2019 – Atelier Centre des Arts Le Cariol, Naussannes, France
2004/2007 – Atelier Marthijn de Groot Amsterdam, NL
2000 – Atelier Hacienda, Monterey, USA
1996/2000 – Atelier de Factory, Groningen, NL
1993/1994 – Atelier Angelslo, Emmen, NL
1993 – Life/work in Saint Ambroix, France
1988/1993 – Atelier Zuidbarge, NL

Teachings

2004 – ‘Ja-Maar’ program for communication Utrecht actor/trainer Gunster Traineeship, NL
2002 – Keynote speaker / performance “The Inner Dialogue” at HR Conference, Istanbul, Turkey
2000/2001 – Change Artist by STBC Amsterdam Soul to Business Consulting, NL
2000 – Management Center, World Premiere Conference Painting, Turkey

Radio & TV

2018 – Documentary Point Zero
2018 – Documentary Tefaf Maastricht
2013 – Documentary France 5, France Télévisions
2006 – NOS Een Vandaag
2006 – VPRO Villa Arena
1997 – NOS ‘Art in the Gaza Strip’
1997 – TV Noord ‘Open Atelier’
1995 – RVU Performance with Martin Simek ’The suffering of the world’
1993 – BRT Radio, The IT Performance’
1993 – VPRO ‘Achterwerk in de kast’
1993 – AVRO Radio ’The battle of Hilversum’
1993 – AVRO Radio ‘IT Documentaire’

Works purchased among

UBS Bank AG, Zürich, Switzerland
Klaus and Barbara Junker, collectors, Bremen, Germany
Aedes, Hilversum, NL
Blu Watches, Colombier, Switzerland
City Hall, Amsterdam, NL
City Hall, Emmen, NL
City Hall, Leiden, NL
City Hall, Rotterdam, NL
Colart, Rotterdam, NL
Dutch, Hilversum, NL
Just B., Amsterdam, NL
Koster Diamonds, Amsterdam, NL
KPN, Den Haag, NL
Kreishaus, Nordhorn, Germany
Mark & Barbara Golden, New York, USA
Mario Ridder, Rotterdam, NL
Marlise Colours, Shanghai, China
Martinair, Amsterdam, NL
MCT, Istanbul, Turkey
Michiel Borstlap, Amsterdam, NL
Montblanc, Amsterdam, NL
Nicole Lopez, Paris, France
Raymond Schneider International, Santa Cruz, USA
Rheintrans, Rotterdam, NL
Sam and Adele, Golden Foundation New York, USA
TEB Bank, Istanbul, Turkey
Univé, Emmen, NL
Wijzonol, Zwolle, NL
Wubbo Ockels, Amsterdam, NL
Xavier Roberts Collection Cleveland, USA