Exhibitions in Amsterdam

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Kho Liang Ie — Mid-Century Modernist

May 14 to Oct 18

Last weeks €22.50

The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam presents the first major museum retrospective of Kho Liang Ie, a pivotal figure in Dutch design from the 1950s to the mid-1970s. His work, characterized by a poetic approach and unconventional material choices, infused functionalist designs with a playful spirit. Kho Liang Ie was born in Indonesia in 1927 and moved to the Netherlands in 1949 to study interior architecture. Even as a student, he achieved recognition, with his furniture designs appearing in prestigious publications. He worked for the Goed Wonen foundation and collaborated with Wim Crouwel on exhibition designs and graphic work. His international network was extensive, introducing new design talen

Kho Liang Ie

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Huis Marseille

Martine Gutierrez – Wunderkind

Jun 27 to Oct 18

Last weeks

This exhibition, titled 'Wunderkind,' explores the complex nature of identity, questioning whether it is innate or developed over time. Martine Gutierrez, an interdisciplinary artist, uses photography, video, music, and performance to examine self-representation and transformation. Her work often features self-portraits where her body becomes a site for critique and reinvention, embodying her statement that 'Identity is a performance.' The exhibition delves into childhood as the 'threshold of selfhood,' presenting never-before-seen artworks from Gutierrez's early years. These pieces reveal her lifelong practice of personal reinvention, starting from her childhood experiments with gender and

Martine Gutierrez

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Rijksmuseum · Rijksmuseum Gardens

Carel Visser

In the Rijksmuseum Gardens

Until Oct 25

Free

This exhibition showcases the influential Dutch sculptor Carel Visser in the Rijksmuseum Gardens. Visser, a prominent figure in twentieth-century Dutch sculpture, primarily worked with iron, using a cutting torch and welding equipment to shape steel plates and beams. His sculptures are characterized by stacking, repetition, and symmetry, creating a rigorous yet recognizable structure. Visitors can expect to see works that evoke natural forms like spines, branches, or resting animals, reflecting Visser's deep connection to nature and his search for its essence. Many of Visser's pieces are permanently installed in public spaces across the Netherlands, rarely leaving their original locations. T

Carel Visser

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Nieuwe Kerk · De Nieuwe Kerk

World Press Photo Exhibition 2026

Apr 24 to Oct 25

€25

The World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 showcases the most impactful photojournalism and documentary photography from the past year. It features images that captured significant global news stories, human experiences, and defining developments. The exhibition covers a range of themes including conflict, climate change, identity, resilience, and the natural world. Visitors can experience the power of visual journalism in the historic setting of De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. This year's exhibition includes over 57,000 entries from 3,700 photographers across 141 countries. The selection highlights images that demand attention, particularly in a time of increasing pressure on press freedom worldwid

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Allard Pierson

Glass, made in antiquity

May 16, 2025 to Nov 1

This exhibition explores the ancient art of glassmaking, showcasing over 200 glass objects from the Allard Pierson's archaeology collection. It delves into the historical development of glass production, starting from its origins in 15th century BCE Egypt, where small vessels were crafted by winding threads of glass around a clay core. A significant advancement occurred in the 2nd century BCE with the introduction of cast and polished bowls, marking an early step towards mass production. Roman times saw glass become integral to daily life, used for storage, personal care, and decoration. The discovery of glassblowing around the mid-first century BCE revolutionized the craft, enabling the cre

Bert Frijns · Emmy van de Grift

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H'ART Museum

The Land of Chocolate Sprinkles. Building a new world together

May 22 to Nov 8

€12.50

The Land of Chocolate Sprinkles. Building a new world together is an exhibition by the Congolese art collective CATPC, making its debut at H'ART Museum. The exhibition delves into the complex and often exploitative realities behind everyday products like chocolate. It highlights how cacao, sugar, and palm oil are frequently produced on plantations where both people and nature suffer significant consequences. The artists of CATPC use their art as a tool for change, with the proceeds from their work being used to buy back exhausted plantation land. This land is then reforested to create food forests, thereby enhancing food security, promoting biodiversity, and aiding in the restoration of the

CATPC

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Rijksmuseum · 20th-century galleries

20th-century galleries

New spotlight displays in the 20th-century galleries

Until Nov 9

This exhibition presents new spotlight displays in the 20th-century galleries, changing every six months. The current edition focuses on several key areas: the drawings of Madelon Vriesendorp, the artistic circle around Charley Toorop, and the significant influence of photography on 20th-century advertising. Madelon Vriesendorp, an artist and architect and co-founder of OMA, is known for her drawings since the 1970s, with recent acquisitions featured. Her early work was inspired by New York City's energy and structure, notably the Statue of Liberty. The display also explores the artistic legacy of Charley Toorop, a prominent painter whose influence extended to the next generation of artists,

Madelon Vriesendorp · Charley Toorop · Bep Rietveld · Edgar Fernhout · John Fernhout · Eva Besnyö

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Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam · Foam

Keerthana Kunnath - Not What You Saw

Sep 18 to Nov 27

Foam 3h presents the first museum exhibition of photographer Keerthana Kunnath, showcasing her debut series 'Not What You Saw'. The exhibition features Kunnath's photographs of female bodybuilders in Kerala, South India. These images capture women displaying their physical strength against the vibrant backdrops of Kerala's landscapes. The work uniquely combines the power of the sport with a tenderness not typically associated with it. Kunnath's photography aims to initiate conversations about gender, sexuality, and mental health, subjects often not openly discussed in India. The project began organically after Kunnath met several female bodybuilders, and she spent extensive time understandin

Keerthana Kunnath

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Rijksmuseum · Rijksmuseum print cabinets

In the Rijksmuseum print cabinets

Until Nov 29

€25

This exhibition showcases rotating selections from the Rijksmuseum's extensive print and drawing collection, which numbers over 750,000 items. Due to the fragility of the materials, the displays are changed every six months to present new narratives. The current presentation delves into various themes, including Roman street art from the 16th century, social satire in the 17th century, and Japanese fairy tales from the 19th century. A special focus is placed on the Van Eeghen Drawing Book, a recently acquired, unique 17th-century treasure. The exhibition explores the work of Polidoro da Caravaggio, a prominent artist of the 1520s in Rome, whose monochrome sgraffiti on palace facades, though

Polidoro da Caravaggio · Rombout Uylenburgh · Giuseppe Mitelli · Francisco de Goya

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Allard Pierson

The Art of Transformation

Jul 4 to Nov 29

This exhibition delves into the transformative power of theatre, exploring how roles, masks, costumes, and sets can shape, enhance, or conceal identities. The Allard Pierson Theatre Collection provides a rich source of materials, including costumes, photographs, audio recordings, and set designs, which form the basis of this display. The exhibition is structured around three key themes: the practice of crossdressing, the history of the Slingelandt theatre, and the life of the revue performer Louisette. These historical narratives also serve as inspiration for contemporary artists. Photographer Diana Blok presents a series of films where actors embody their dream roles, often of the opposite

Diana Blok · Arne Hendriks · Danny van Zuijlen

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Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam · MAQAM and Mercatorplein

Foam x Middle East Archive

Oct 1 to Dec 20

This exhibition presents two distinct yet connected photographic projects by Middle East Archive and Foam, exploring visual narratives from the Middle East and North Africa. The first exhibition, 'Al Nisa / النساء', is a group show at MAQAM, based on a book by curator Romaisa Baddar. It features photographs of women from across the MENA region, giving them a voice to tell their own stories and navigate the complexities of expectation and reality. The exterior of the MAQAM building is adorned with large-scale images, integrating the exhibition into the local neighborhood. A portion of the works is also viewable during other events at MAQAM. The second exhibition is a solo presentation at Merc

Yomna El Beyaly · Romaisa Baddar · Khalid Raji · Yasser Alawan · Ed Kashi · Rania Matar

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Allard Pierson · The Site

De Vindplaats

Jun 5 to Jan 3, 2027

De Vindplaats, meaning 'The Site', is a new space dedicated to archaeology in Amsterdam, offering a permanent display that brings the field to life. It showcases a collection of archaeological finds, including sherds, bones, and utensils, which are everyday objects from the past. The exhibition explores what these material remains tell us about ourselves and how we perceive them. Archaeologists, curators, students, and the public collaborate to create narratives connecting the past and present. Objects from the Allard Pierson and the City of Amsterdam are presented together, linking different time periods and global locations. The display is inspired by themes such as makers, children, and b

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Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Yayoi Kusama

Sep 11 to Jan 17, 2027

€22.50

This exhibition presents a major retrospective of Yayoi Kusama, a highly influential and pioneering artist of the 20th and 21st centuries. It spans over seven decades of her groundbreaking work, showcasing a diverse range of artistic media including painting, sculpture, installations, drawing, fashion, collages, and happenings. The exhibition serves as a posthumous tribute to the artist's life and work. Kusama is internationally recognized for her exploration of themes such as infinity, self-obliteration, and repetition. Her signature use of polka dots, mirror rooms, and immersive installations are emblematic of her unique artistic vision. The works invite viewers into dynamic environments t

Yayoi Kusama

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Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam · Foam

Hailun Ma

Hometown

Sep 18 to Jan 20, 2027

This exhibition showcases the work of Hailun Ma, a prominent emerging photographer from China. It is her first major solo exhibition outside of China, focusing on her series about family, youth, and daily style in Xinjiang. Ma uses fashion as a means to observe and comment on social dynamics. Her photography captures gestures, styles, and relationships that define everyday life. The exhibition moves between staged and spontaneous moments, revealing how individuals present themselves. It explores how culture is expressed, shared, and reinterpreted through personal style. Ma's vibrant portraits bring global attention to style subcultures within China's ethnic minority and multicultural communi

Hailun Ma

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Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam · Foam

Nadav Kander - The edge of things

Sep 18 to Jan 31, 2027

Foam presents 'The edge of things', a major solo exhibition by the internationally renowned artist Nadav Kander. Over more than three decades, Kander has created some of the most celebrated images in contemporary photography. His work includes portraits of prominent figures like Barack Obama, Rosamund Pike, and David Lynch for major publications such as The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, and TIME. The exhibition traces the threads connecting his diverse body of work, highlighting a deep concern with the fragility of human existence. It also explores the passage of time and the quiet intensity found in everyday life. Kander's photographs are known for their ability to evoke both emo

Nadav Kander

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Allard Pierson

Verhalenkabinet: Change the world, not us

Cabinet of Stories

Jul 7 to Jan 31, 2027

This exhibition, 'Change the world, not us', is presented by Allard Pierson in celebration of World Pride. It highlights that Pride is both a festive occasion and a crucial protest for LGBTIQ+ rights globally, noting that in many countries, being part of the LGBTIQ+ community is still a crime. The exhibition specifically addresses the current pressure on LGBTIQ+ rights in the Netherlands, with a focus on the discrimination and violence faced by non-binary individuals. By bringing to light the often-forgotten stories of LGBTIQ+ people, the exhibition aims to normalize gender and sexual diversity. It explains that gender identity is a personal feeling of self, which may not align with the sex

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H'ART Museum

Chez Matisse – Masterpieces from Centre Pompidou

Oct 3 to Feb 14, 2027

€29.50

This exhibition at H'ART Museum celebrates Henri Matisse, a pivotal figure in modern art renowned for his vibrant color palettes and innovative paper cut-outs. Matisse dedicated his career to achieving a perfect synthesis of simplicity, form, and expressive power. The exhibition, a collaboration with Centre Pompidou, features over eighty works. Visitors will explore a comprehensive selection of Matisse's art, alongside pieces by his contemporaries and later artists influenced by his enduring legacy. Among these are works by Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and Pablo Picasso. The exhibition highlights Matisse's profound impact on the art world, showcasing his revolutionary approach to painting. I

Henri Matisse

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Rijksmuseum · Special Collections

WORN

Treasured clothing

Mar 27 to Mar 21, 2027

€25

This exhibition, titled WORN, focuses on treasured clothing and presents 24 garments that have been worn, altered, and reused. These items, dating from 1640 to 1930, showcase signs of wear, repair, and craftsmanship, telling the stories of their use and the generations that cherished them. Visitors can observe details like mending, soft wear, and even sweat, revealing how these garments led a life of their own. The presentation highlights the deep connection between people and their clothing, emphasizing how pieces were repaired and passed down. The exhibition is part of a yearly display of objects from the Rijksmuseum's extensive costume collection. The design for this specific presentation

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Nieuwe Kerk · De Nieuwe Kerk

Queer Amsterdam, the Pink City

Jul 9 to Apr 4, 2027

€25

This major exhibition, titled Queer Amsterdam, the Pink City, is being launched by De Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam as part of the WorldPride 2026 event. It delves into the unique and tumultuous history of Amsterdam’s LGBTQIA+ community. The narrative explores a story of love, exclusion, courage, struggle, and freedom. This history is told within a place that was once a stage for religious doctrine and rejection. The exhibition takes place on the occasion of World Pride Amsterdam 2026. It has been realized in collaboration with numerous organizations, museums, and experts. IHLIA LGBTI Heritage is the primary lender and partner for this exhibit. The Amsterdam queer communities have made an indispensa

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Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam · main corridor surrounding the historic staircase

Post/No/Bills #7

Kexin Hao — Anatomy of Obstruction

Aug 20 to Apr 30, 2027

€22.50

This exhibition, Post/No/Bills #7, features the artist Kexin Hao and is titled Anatomy of Obstruction. Hao transforms the corridor around the Stedelijk Museum's historic staircase into a representation of an institutional body. The Post/No/Bills series is dedicated to showcasing new forms of graphic design in this specific location. Hao's work explores the parallels between organizations and organisms, and how institutions and bodies function. She begins with hand-drawn anatomical diagrams, which are then scaled up to fill the niches of the corridor. The sequence of works begins with 'Rebuttal from Within,' presented as an anus, leaving its function as a front or back door ambiguous. 'Air Af

Kexin Hao

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Rijksmuseum · Photography Gallery

Document Netherlands: New Energy

Kadir van Lohuizen photographs the energy transition on and around the North Sea

Oct 9 to Jan 17, 2027

€25

This exhibition showcases the work of photographer and filmmaker Kadir van Lohuizen, focusing on the energy transition around the North Sea. Van Lohuizen was granted unique access to various energy facilities, including offshore wind farms, hydrogen plants, CO₂ storage sites, and data centers. He documented the rapid changes occurring in the North Sea region due to increasing energy demands. The photographs capture the construction of wind farms and the installation of subsea power cables. This exhibition is part of the Document Netherlands series, which highlights current social themes through photography. The series commissions Dutch photographers to explore and visually represent signific

Kadir van Lohuizen

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Rijksmuseum

Willem de Kooning at work

Oct 9 to Jan 17, 2027

€25

This exhibition at the Rijksmuseum celebrates Willem de Kooning, a pivotal artist of the 20th century, marking 100 years since he left the Netherlands for New York. It presents a major retrospective focusing on his drawings, which were fundamental to his artistic exploration across all mediums. The exhibition showcases over 120 pieces, illustrating the evolution of his drawing style over 65 years, from early student works to spontaneous charcoal sketches. De Kooning viewed drawing not as preparatory studies but as a vital process of exploration, correction, and self-surprise. His art was characterized by constant change, as he famously stated, "I have to change to stay the same." Alongside t

Willem de Kooning

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Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Adam Pendleton — Some Wild Kind of Language

Oct 10 to Jan 17, 2027

€22.50

This exhibition, Adam Pendleton’s first museum presentation in the Netherlands, features ten paintings and eight large-scale drawings. It showcases Pendleton's ongoing exploration of abstract forms and marks a significant moment in his artistic career, with many new works making their debut. The exhibition, titled Some Wild Kind of Language, is installed within the central spaces of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam's historic building. Pendleton actively incorporates the museum's architecture and existing collection as integral parts of the exhibition. He specifically engages with the iconic staircase of the 1895 building, a space historically significant for its transformation into an early "

Adam Pendleton

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Wereldmuseum Amsterdam

Disco

DISCO Exhibition: More Than Just Beats and Glitter

Oct 10 to Aug 22, 2027

This exhibition is a vibrant tribute to the disco movement, celebrating its cultural significance beyond music and nightlife. Originating in Black, Latino, and queer underground clubs, disco emerged in the 1970s as a powerful force for freedom, inclusivity, and self-expression. Visitors will journey through hundreds of disco tracks, videos, artworks, fashion pieces, and design objects, experiencing disco's unifying power firsthand. The exhibition highlights how disco was intertwined with major social and cultural transformations, playing a crucial role in the emancipation of African American and Latin American communities, women, and queer and trans people. Clubs served as vital spaces for v

Andy Warhol · Keith Haring · Kwame Brathwaite · Michael Abramson · Meryl Meisler · Faith Ringgold

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Wereldmuseum Amsterdam

Raad van de Raaf

Join in to help the Earth

From Oct 10

The 'Raad van de Raaf' (Council of the Raven) exhibition invites children to join a global club dedicated to helping the Earth. Visitors will be introduced to Dutch Raymi and Greenlandic Ivalu, who are part of this initiative. The exhibition aims to connect children in the Netherlands with this cause, starting in the Greenlandic world where the concept originated. Through interactive elements, visitors can step into the lives of characters like hunter Lars, artist Bolatta, and teenager Kuluk, learning how they care for the planet. Activities include testing balance in a kayak, riding a dog sledge, and brainstorming ideas for a better world. This children's exhibition is suitable for ages 6 a

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Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam · Foam

Myriam Boulos

A Collective Diary: Sexual Fantasies

Oct 23 to Jan 20, 2027

Foam presents the first museum solo exhibition of Lebanese photographer Myriam Boulos, recipient of the 19th Foam Paul Huf Award. The exhibition features an intimate and deeply personal body of work created in her hometown of Beirut. Boulos directs her lens towards the spaces, bodies, and intimate encounters that exist beyond the immediately visible. Her photographs delve into themes of sexuality, desire, and fantasy. They reflect on how bodies and land are shaped by systems of power and oppression. The exhibition showcases selected works from series such as 'Looking for tenderness', 'What’s ours', 'Sexual fantasies', and 'Fragments of a collective diary in times of war'. These pieces collec

Myriam Boulos

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Huis Marseille

Adolphe de Meyer. The Substance of a Venetian Dream

Oct 24 to Feb 7, 2027

Huis Marseille presents a premiere of Adolphe de Meyer’s rediscovered collection of photographs of Venice. This is the first ever European museum exhibition devoted to the photographer Adolphe de Meyer (1868–1946). The exhibition follows the remarkable discovery in 2019 of a series of 75 photographs documenting his life and work in Venice. This collection is displayed in its entirety for the first time, offering an exceptional glimpse into his personal and artistic world. Adolphe de Meyer was a pioneer of fashion photography, elevating it to artistic heights for publications like Vogue, Vanity Fair, and Harper's Bazaar. He was also an interior decorator, designer, art collector, journalist,

Adolphe de Meyer

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Huis Marseille

Andrzej Steinbach - Hier

Oct 24 to Feb 7, 2027

The exhibition 'Hier' (Here) at Huis Marseille introduces the Netherlands to the work of Andrzej Steinbach, showcasing his photography from the last ten years. Steinbach is known for his meticulously planned compositions and austere settings, developing a distinct visual language early in his career. The exhibition title 'Hier' serves as an invitation to engage with his works, which function as gestures of showing. Through their austerity, the photographs isolate patterns, whether in small details or larger social structures, creating space for contemplation of the mechanisms behind the act of looking. Steinbach treats seeing itself as an aesthetic problem, giving it a form that can be admir

Andrzej Steinbach

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Huis Marseille

Maya Inès Touam

Belongings

Oct 24 to Feb 7, 2027

This exhibition, 'Belongings' (Ce qui nous appartient), is the first solo museum exhibition in the Netherlands by French-Algerian artist Maya Inès Touam. It showcases her visually striking tableaus that blend elements from diverse times, cultures, art movements, and religions. Touam's work addresses contemporary themes, allowing myths and masterpieces to resonate in the present day. Growing up in Paris, she maintained a strong connection to Algeria, her father's homeland. She challenges dichotomies often imposed between European and North African cultures, resisting artificial polarities. Her artistic practice interweaves stories, visual languages, and objects from different cultures through

Maya Inès Touam

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Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Collaborative Artistic Practices - Proposals for the Museum Collection

Nov 28 to Apr 4, 2027

€22.50

This exhibition, titled 'Collaborative Artistic Practices - Proposals for the Museum Collection,' will explore the multifaceted nature of collective work in art. It serves as a platform for new acquisitions, focusing on how group efforts generate novel artistic forms, visual languages, and methodologies. The exhibition will investigate the new relationships forged between creators, and between creators and the public. Its scope will encompass a wide range of outputs, including artworks, social design projects, manifestos, printed matter, archival research, and workshops. The Stedelijk Museum is particularly interested in collective working methods and perspectives that actively reshape the a

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Rijksmuseum

Drawing!

Feb 12, 2027 to May 23, 2027

€25

This exhibition, titled "Drawing!", explores a pivotal moment around 1600 when the art of drawing underwent a significant transformation in the Northern Netherlands. A collective of artist friends, including Hendrick Goltzius, Jacques de Gheyn II, and Abraham Bloemaert, were united by a shared passion for innovation. Their collaborative efforts propelled the art of drawing to new and extraordinary levels of achievement. These artists fearlessly experimented with a wide array of materials, diverse techniques, and varied subjects, consistently challenging established artistic boundaries. The exhibition presents a comprehensive overview of this revolutionary period in drawing. It features over

Hendrick Goltzius · Jacques de Gheyn II · Abraham Bloemaert

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Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Luc Tuymans — Silent Music

Mar 6, 2027 to Jul 11, 2027

€22.50

The exhibition 'Silent Music' delves into the hidden forces present in the work of artist Luc Tuymans. It explores subjects such as the evil of war, visual memories of colonialism, and the concept of the uncanny, which often appear veiled in Tuymans’ characteristic palette and painting style. His method of creating 'images of images' further contributes to this veiled quality. The exhibition's title, 'Silent Music,' functions as an enigmatic paradox and is directly derived from a painting by Tuymans in the Stedelijk's collection. Featuring nearly sixty paintings, 'Silent Music' offers a concentrated overview within the architectural heart of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Tuymans’ painting

Luc Tuymans

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Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

ABN AMRO ART AWARD 2026

HEND SAMIR

Mar 19, 2027 to Jun 20, 2027

€22.50

Hend Samir, winner of the fourteenth ABN AMRO Art Award, presents her exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. The jury recognized Samir as a painter 'pur sang' with a virtuosic technique. Her paintings are described as enigmatic and in constant motion, telling stories that explore universal themes. These include trauma, sexuality, family relationships, and forms of cohabitation. The works are characterized by swirling, multi-layered brushstrokes, often painted wet-on-wet. Everyday scenes and diverse figures emerge and recede within the canvases. The exhibition showcases Samir's ability to create fluid and dynamic compositions. Visitors will encounter paintings that invite contemplation

Hend Samir

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Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Ibrahim Mahama

Mar 27, 2027 to Aug 1, 2027

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