Steven Aalders
Steven Aalders | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 4, 1959 Middelburg, Netherlands |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | Abstract minimalistic geometric oil paintings |
Steven Aalders (born 4 July 1959) is an abstract painter acclaimed for his minimalistic geometric oil artworks.
Biography
Aalders was born in Middelburg, Netherlands, and raised in Amsterdam. He pursued his studies at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy from 1979 to 1982, followed by Croydon College of Art in London during 1982–1983, and then continued at Ateliers 63 in Haarlem between 1983 and 1985. After being honored with the Royal Award in Painting in 1986, he spent a year working in Barcelona. His artistic residencies include time at the Josef Albers Foundation in Bethany, Connecticut (2011), and at Van Doesburghuis in Meudon, Paris (2017).
He currently lives and works in Amsterdam.
Exhibitions
Aalders held his debut solo gallery show at Jurka Gallery in Amsterdam in 1987. Since then, he has exhibited frequently, particularly with Slewe Gallery, Amsterdam. His inaugural solo museum exhibition was Vertical Thoughts (2002) at the Stedelijk Museum voor Aktuele Kunst in Ghent. In 2010, the exhibition Cardinal Points was presented at the Kunstmuseum Den Haag (formerly Gemeentemuseum), accompanied by a publication featuring over fifteen years of his oeuvre along with essays by distinguished art critics.
In 2020, he produced an installation at the Van Gogh Museum inspired by Van Gogh's Harvest. The Seasons exhibition held during 2021/2022 at the Kröller-Müller Museum was supported by a catalogue published by Hatje Cantz Verlag, documenting a decade of his artistic output. Additionally, Koenig Books released The Fifth Line. Thoughts a Painter in 2017, compiling Aalders' insights on abstract art through interviews.
Work
Aalders specializes in abstract oil paintings drawing inspiration from modernism and American Minimal Art. His objective is to distill essence by constructing light and spatial perception through paint. His creations merge modernist elements such as repetition and uniformity with enduring notions of temporality and locale, while his color application reflects classical theories of color. The rhythm of existence is conveyed through his paintings. Besides painting, he has contributed written works on art for newspapers, magazines, and exhibition catalogues.
His representation includes Slewe Gallery in Amsterdam and Walter Storms Galerie located in Munich.
Collections
Works by Aalders are held within numerous international private and public collections, including the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Kröller-Müller Museum (Otterlo), Museum Voorlinden (Wassenaar), Museum Kurhaus Kleve, AkzoNobel Art Foundation, ABN AMRO Bank Art Collection, BPD Art Collection, Over Holland Art Collection, and Thoma Art Collection based in (Chicago).
Publications (selection)
2021: Steven Aalders, Seasons, Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo / Hatje Cantz, Berlin (texts by Rudi Fuchs and Steven Aalders; design by Irma Boom)
2017: Steven Aalders, The Fifth Line. Thoughts of a Painter, Koenig Books, London (design by Irma Boom)
2010: Steven Aalders, Cardinal Points, Gemeentemuseum The Hague (texts by Benno Tempel, Rudi Fuchs, Thomas Lange, Steven Aalders; design by Irma Boom)
2009: Steven Aalders, Place (Black, Brown, Beige, Grey & Ash), Mondriaanhuis, Amersfoort, NL (design by Irma Boom)
2002: Steven Aalders, Vertical Thoughts, S.M.A.K., Ghent (texts by Jan Hoet, Pietje Tegenbosch; design by Irma Boom)
Commissions
Aalders has undertaken numerous commissions that demonstrate his fusion of artistic expression with architectural elements. Working alongside Reiach and Hall Architects in Edinburgh, he crafted the artwork Frieze for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and developed glass panel designs for the Nuclear Archive located in Wick, Scotland (2017). In collaboration with Group A from Rotterdam, he designed a roof for the parking entrance at Beatrixpark Beethovenstraat (2016). Additionally, in 2019, he created a pictorial installation at Huize Frankendael in Amsterdam.