KLAASHENK BLONK

Sculptor | The Netherlands

Klaashenk Blonk creates abstract and figurative ceramics. His work is inspired by the experiences he had on his travels to North-Africa, Central-America, Southeast Asia and Southwest Asia.

For me water and fire are opposite. To realize my ceramic sculptures. Both elements are indispensable. Water makes the clay malleable as fire hardens and preserves. In water and fire, I see an antithesis between life and death

PORTRAIT

Klaashenk Blonk is a seasoned ceramics sculptor, who is currently based in Dordrecht. Initially, he did his art studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam. Later he was affiliated as an art teacher at the Free Academy in Rotterdam., Cultural Education Dordrecht and Art Education Walcheren. 


Originally a painter, he explored many techniques in 2D and 3D before moving into ceramic sculpting. During the COVID-period Blonk started a new series of ceramic sculptures . Confined in his studio, he went back into memory lane and started to revisit his travels to North-Africa, Central-America, South-East Asia and South-West Asia.


This free exploration through online trips, old photos and books resulted in the intriguing Proud-series: A series of duo sculptures, on the edge of Western and non-Western impressions, consisting of indigenous clay masks with acrylic paint, topped up with colourful glazed semi-abstract headdresses. Headdresses that are far from indigenous on second sight, but are a remarkable impressions of these memories of colouful far away worlds.


Blonk is an established artist in the Netherlands who has participated in many group and solo exhibitions including museums like the Boijmans -Van Beuningen museum in Rotterdam, Museum Dordrecht and the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam.

Klaashenk Blonk is a seasoned ceramics sculptor, who is currently based in Dordrecht. Initially, he did his art studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam. Later he was affiliated as an art teacher at the Free Academy in Rotterdam., Cultural Education Dordrecht and Art Education Walcheren. 

Originally a painter, he explored many techniques in 2D and 3D before moving into ceramic sculpting. During the COVID-period Blonk started a new series of ceramic sculptures . Confined in his studio, he went back into memory lane and started to revisit his travels to North-Africa, Central-America, South-East Asia and South-West Asia.


This free exploration through online trips, old photos and books resulted in the intriguing Proud-series: A series of duo sculptures, on the edge of Western and non-Western impressions, consisting of indigenous clay masks with acrylic paint, topped up with colourful glazed semi-abstract headdresses. Headdresses that are far from indigenous on second sight, but are a remarkable impressions of these memories of colouful far away worlds.

Blonk is an established artist in the Netherlands who has participated in many group and solo exhibitions including museums like the Boijmans -Van Beuningen museum in Rotterdam, Museum Dordrecht and the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam.



SPOTLIGHT

WORKS

CREDENTIALS

Solo exhibitions

  • Rotterdamse kunststichting
  • Kunstzaken Rotterdams Steengoed
  • Galerie Neeltje Jansen, Rotterdam
  • Galerie Gaudi, Landgraaf
  • Kunstliefde, Utrecht
  • Pictura Salon, Dordrecht
  • GSH Galerie, Hilversum
  • Provinciehuis Zuid-Holland, Den Haag
  • Galerie Kralingen, Rotterdam
  • Gemeentehuis Veere
  • Art et Industriae, Den Haag
  • Galerie Keramix, Nieuwegein
  • Galerie Wind, Rotterdam
  • Stadsgalerie, Gouda
  • Galerie Wijnstraat, Dordrecht




Group exhibitions

2023
  • #Faces, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands

__

  • Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam
  • Stedelijk Museum Schiedam
  • Slot Zeist
  • Dordrechts Museum
  • Grote Kerk Veere
  • Galerie Noord Groningen
  • SBK Dordt Verbeeldt

Commissions

  • CBK Dordrecht, wall relief Aquapulca zwembad, Dordrecht
  • CBK Dordrecht, design for Tunnelsyndroom, Dordrecht
  • Municipality of Papendrecht, realization of a collection of contemporary art in various techniques, for Regionale Kunstuitleen
  • Rotterdamse kunststichting
  • Kunstzaken Rotterdams Steengoed
  • Galerie Neeltje Jansen, Rotterdam
  • Galerie Gaudi, Landgraaf
  • Kunstliefde, Utrecht
  • Pictura Salon, Dordrecht
  • GSH Galerie, Hilversum
  • Provinciehuis Zuid-Holland, Den Haag
  • Galerie Kralingen, Rotterdam
  • Gemeentehuis Veere
  • Art et Industriae, Den Haag
  • Galerie Keramix, Nieuwegein
  • Galerie Wind, Rotterdam
  • Stadsgalerie, Gouda
  • Galerie Wijnstraat, Dordrecht

2023

  • #Faces, OpenArtExchange, Schiedam, The Netherlands

__

  • Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam
  • Stedelijk Museum Schiedam
  • Slot Zeist
  • Dordrechts Museum
  • Grote Kerk Veere
  • Galerie Noord Groningen
  • SBK Dordt Verbeeldt




PROFESSIONAL COLLECTIONS





View Klaashenk Blonk's works on Artsy

Join us on Artsy to explore Klaashenk Blonk's compelling body of work

​Visit Artsy