Wanderlust
"Travel and exploration are a huge source of inspiration for Ton Leenarts. The 1990s saw him travel to India, a trip that would come to influence his work for the next decade : the frenetic atmosphere of the cities, the mix of religion with the kitsch and the vibrant Bollywood culture made for appealing subject matter. In the 2000s he became preoccupied with ancient cultures and mythology, a recurrent theme in his more recent work.
From Ancient Egypt to Persia and on to Mexico. Leenarts’ painting style is constantly evolving to incorporate the various techniques acquired on his journeys. Often, his pieces are exuberantly colourful and exotic, yet lack linear perspective and have an overriding sense of artifice. This flattening of space is a technique borrowed from Egyptian painting while the filter of artificiality is inspired by Persian Mughal miniatures. Leenarts’ work is also affected by the paintings of Gauguin and Pop-art combining dreamy imagery with a stylised Pop edge. "
Selected Exhibitions & Projects
2024
Kunsträume der Michael Horbach Stiftung - Cologne
Yamuna River at Nostalgia - July 28, 2024 - August 25, 2024
My Video about Yamuna River
2020
Kunstzentrum Wachsfabrik. Cologne
Galerie Delphi form, Zwolle - Viaducten -
2019
Kunststation Bunker H101, Cologne
Especial, Bonn, Fresco - El laberinto de la soledad -
2018
ARCAM Architecture Museum Amsterdam - De Noord/zuidlijn
Stichting Architectuur, Amsterdam, - Metro Schilderkunst.
G.O. gallery, Amsterdam, - De Noord/zuidlijn -
2017
Tropenmuseum Amsterdam, - The Buddha -
Galleria Patrick Domken, Cadaques, Spain, Col+lectiva”
2016
Museum of New Art Detroit, USA, Biennale Detroit
Tao Gallery Amsterdam - Underground -
Centro de Culturas, Cadaques, Spain - Ton Leenarts -
2015
Warehouse Loods 18, Heerlen, - Hommage van Gogh - Galeria Nou Milenni, Barcelona, Spain
+ exhibitions
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam // Allard Pierson Museum Amsterdam // Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam // Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam // Sonsbeek IAC Arnhem // Stedelijk Museum Zwolle // Musee Art Moderne Liège // Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam // V.U exposorium Amsterdam, Gallery Torch, Amsterdam // Gallerie Delphi-form Zwolle // Moderne Kunst Dietmar Werle, Cologne // Kunsthaus Reiner Opoku, Cologne // Gallery Klaudia Marr Santa Fé, USA // Gallery Andrea Leenarts, Cologne // Gallery Zeidoros, Athens // Galeria Helena Ramos, Barcelona // Galeria Carlos Lozano Cadaques +
+ Stage Design
Theatre Mary Stuart, Paris:
1985 - 1988 Sam Shepard: Savage Love / Angel City / Fool For Love
1986 Artoise by Robert Cordier
+ Commissioned
For Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam and Amsterdam Museum: - Hells Angels Amsterdam
Training / Studies
Hoge School voor Beeldende Kunst, Utrecht
Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam
2020
2020 - Kunstzentrum Wachsfabrik
- Ton Leenarts - neue Bilder -
präsentiert von Rupprecht Stempell
2020 - Galerie Delphi form
- Viaducten -
2019
2019 - Kunststation Bunker H101, Cologne
2019 - Kunststation Bunker H101, Cologne
2019 - Projektarbeit, Bonn
Fresco " El Laberinto de la Soledad", Café Especial, Bonn
2018
2018 - ARCAM
2018 - ARCAM
2018 - ARCAM
2018 - ARCAM
2017
2017 - Tropenmuseum
2017 - Galleria Patrick Domken
2017 - Galleria Patrick Domken
2016
2016 - Museum of New Art, Detroit
2016 - T.A.O. Gallery, Amsterdam
2016 - Centro de Culturas, Cadaqués
2015
2015 - Galeria Nou Milenni, Barcelona, Spain
2015 - Galeria Nou Milenni, Barcelona, Spain
2015 - Amsterdam Museum
2015
2014 - Gallery Delphi form, Zwolle
- The Enigma of Desire -
2014 - Gallery Zeidoros, Kythira, Greece
