Born in Stockholm, 1968
Education
Robert van Bolderick studied Fine Arts in Stockholm, Sweden for two years at Stockholm Municipal Art School and one year at Paletten Art School.
Studied Film and Editing at Kulturama Film School for two years and crossmedia/DTP/webdesign at NTI school for two years in Stockholm, Sweden.
Studied Corporate Finance at DUID school in Stockholm, Sweden for one year.
Bio
Robert van Bolderick was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1968 and is of both Swedish and Dutch descent.
Grew up in Stockholm and from age eleven in Las Palmas de Grand Canarias, Spain. Growing up in the pulse of a cosmopolitan city like Las Palmas and its mix of nationalities gave Robert an early interest in various languages and symbols which he uses in his art today. He is focused mostly on mixed media, combining acrylic, oil and tempera with the praxis of collage. This unique combination gives life to his art by expressing dreamlike and vibrant scenarios. Rhythm, pattern and balance are important, while images and text fragments are prominent but do not give the viewer all the information. His art captures the essence of dreams and memories which are fragmented and provide only a glimpse of what happened. Robert will often create an image in which the meanings of the adjacent symbols change, using hieroglyphs and cave paintings along with modern symbols, old family pictures, notes, recent events, or historical extracts in text and images. The familiar imagery loses its inherent symbolic value and becomes part of a new image. Robert currently lives and works between France and Sweden.
Statement
My abstract paintings are an expression of my fascination of symbols, contemporary street art and modern life. By using a mixed technique that combines acrylic, oil, gauche, tempera, to the praxis of collage, I give life to artworks with dreamlike and vibrant scenarios that imprison on the canvas tracks of the real and of metaphorical evocations. I work with abstract for its lack of representation and total freedom. Rhythm, pattern and balance is important in the paintings that I make. I start each painting with a sketch and then building up layers of collage materials that consist of old and contemporary newspaper clippings and photos, old text notes and sheet music. These collage pieces are then cut and mounted on to the canvas or board in a specific way to form the underlying pattern for the painting. Like the memory, the paper and image clips are fragmented across the canvas.
This helps lay the foundation for the initial imagery and paves the way for the following applications of an impasto layers of paint. Texture, surface treatments and colour are very important aspects of my work in order for each painting to have a very profound and compelling presence.
The goal is to create a compelling work of abstract art that engages the viewer, is endlessly absorbing and promotes a meaningful dialogue. Where the images can be seen as decorative, but also give an interest to move closer to see more details.
The paintings may appear to refer to a typically Dadaist aesthetics, but at the same time they’re purged of the Dada polemic force and iconoclastic fury. In fact, the paintings colour, cut-outs, symbols of a mysterious past, like of the present, slowly emerge on the surface in a continuum of summons and recovery, composing and compressing themselves into new formal structures capable of returning the memory of reasons and feelings, and emotionally closer to the Rauschenberg’s memory to aim for a particular text and image to have an underlying meaning.
Exhibitions
In Situ Art Fair, Draw the Line, Youth Center, Skopje, Macedonia, 2018
Gallery Studio Four Seasons, Stockholm, Sweden, 2018
Caelum Gallery, New York, USA, 2017
Art Nou Mil·lenni Gallery, Barcelona, Spain 2017
Affordable Art Fair, Stockholm, Sweden, 2017
Redsheep Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 2017
Gallery Studio Four Seasons, Stockholm, Sweden, 2017
Act Aberdeen, Mixed Bag, Group exhibition, Aberdeen, Scotland, 2017
Hartexpo, Espacio120, Barcelona, Spain 2017
Paratissima International Contemporary Art Fair, Hyperspace, The Youth Center, Skopje, Macedonia, 2017
Stockholm Art Fair, Lavalhallen, Stockholm, Sweden, 2017
BIAF, Barcelona International Art Fair, Barcelona, Spain, 2016
Gallery 360 Contemporary Art, Florens, Italy 2016
Paratissima International Contemporary Art Fair, To The Stars, Torino Esposizione, Torino, Italy, 2016
Flyer Art Gallery, Rom, Italy 2016
Paratissima Skopje, International Contemporary Art Fair, Transformation, The Youth Center, Skopje, Macedonia, 2016
Deeloop Art Fair, Luftkastellet, Limhamn, Sweden, 2016
Art Monaco, Monaco, 2016
DAAC gallery, Dubuque Area Arts Collective, Blurring the edges, Iowa, USA, 2016
USEUM Exhibition, World Child Cancer Charity at Le Dame Art Gallery, London, England, 2016
Le Dame Art Gallery, USEUM, London, England, 2016
Rochester Contemporary Art Center 6x6x, Rochester, USA, 2016
Gallery Studio Four Seasons, Stockholm, Sweden, 2015
Swedbank with Modern Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 2015
Gallery Studio Four Seasons, Stockholm, Sweden, 2014
Gallery Nybroviken, Stockholm, Sweden, 2014
Art from Sweden, EU, European Economic and Social Committee, Bryssel, Belgium, 2013
Gallery Nybroviken, Stockholm, Sweden, 2013
Gallery Artmeet, Milano, Italy, 2013
Art from Sweden, EU, European Economic and Social Committee, Bryssel, Belgium, 2012
Dutch Embassy, Stockholm, Sweden, 2012
Art from Sweden, EU, European Economic and Social Committee, Bryssel, Belgium, 2011
Art from Sweden, EU, European Economic and Social Committee, Bryssel, Belgium, 2010
Gallery Nybroviken, Stockholm, Sweden 2007
Gallery Loyd, Oslo, Norway, 2007
Gallery Nybroviken, Stockholm, Sweden 2006
Gallery Artlab, Stockholm, Sweden 2006
Dutch Embassy, Stockholm, Sweden 2005
Gallery Studio Four Seasons, Stockholm, Sweden, 1998
Kitchen & a Bar Art Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1997
Gallery Studio Four Seasons, Stockholm, Sweden, 1997
Swedish Film Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 1997
Midsommargården Art Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1996
Stockholm Food Factory Art Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1996
AMS Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1996
KPMG Bohlins Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1996
Tegen Service Art Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1996
Swedish Film Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 1995
Grand Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden 1995
Gallery Studio Four Seasons, Stockholm, Sweden, 1995
Gallery Lilla, Östersund, Sweden, 1994
Gallery Ludvig, Stockholm, Sweden, 1994
Galleri Zero, Stockholm, Sweden, 1994
IF Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1994
Wella Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden, 1994
Skolförvaltningen Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden 1994
Gallery Manolo Rivero, Merida, Mexico, 1993
Gallery Malle, Örebro, Sweden, 1993
Grand Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden, 1993
Gallery Art Center, Stockholm, Sweden, 1993
Erik Löwenadler Art, Stockholm, Sweden, 1993
Luftfartsverket Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1993
Gallery Studio Four Seasons, Stockholm, Sweden, 1993
Art Gallery Sky City, Stockholm, Sweden, 1993
Securitas Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1993
Gallery Java, Stockholm, Sweden, 1993
Atlas Copco Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
Gallery Off Side, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
54 Gallery, New York, USA, 1992
Polish Club, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
Trygg Hansa Art Association Gallery, 1992
Hotel Continental, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
Swedish Film Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
Botkyrka Art Gallery, Botkyrka, Sweden, 1992
Gallery Java, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
AMS Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
LRF Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
Kommunalarbetarförbundet, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
Ericssons Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
Electrolux Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
Kabi Pharmacia Upjohn Art Association Gallery, Uppsala, Sweden, 1992
Hermans Hermitage, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
Skanska Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1992
Gallery Off Side, Stockholm, Sweden, 1991
Gallery Studio Four Seasons, Stockholm, Sweden, 1991
Gallery Dombron, Uppsala, Sweden, 1991
Folksam Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1991
Folkens Museum Etnografiska/Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm, Sweden, 1991
Sveriges Riksdag/Swedish Parliament, Stockholm, Sweden, Sweden, 1991
Artist Space, New York, US, 1991
SPP Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1991
Arla Foods Art, Stockholm, Sweden, 1991
Gallery Off Side, Stockholm, Sweden, 1990
Skolförvaltingen Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1990
FOA Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1990
Jakobsberg Art Gallery, Stockholm Sweden, 1990
Kommunalarbetarförbundet Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1990
Folksam Art Association Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1990
Gallery Mundial, San Jose, Costa Rica, 1989
SIAB Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden, 1989
Jakobsberg Art Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden, 1988
Götabanken Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden, 1988
Scandinavian Club, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, 1985
Museum
USEUM, Interactive Fine Art Gallery & Museum, London, England, 2016
Museum of Ethnography/Folkens Museum Etnografiska, Stockholm, Sweden, 1991
Representation
HNW Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Maggio Art Consultancy, London, UK
Redsheep Gallery, Antibes, France
Mahlstedt Gallery, New Rochelle, USA
Modern Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden
Collaborations
Potatomike, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Recreational Enterprises & Perseus Gallery, New York, USA
Gallerique, Chicago, USA
Xanadu Gallery, Scottsdale, USA
Gallery One Art, Norway & Poland
Flyer Art Gallery, Rome, Italy
Gallery360, Florence, Italy
Art Nou Mil·lenni Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
Galleri Bergman, Stockholm, Sweden
Commissions & Art associations
Art from Sweden, EU, European Economic and Social Committee, Brussels
Hotel Park Inn by Radisson Stockholm Hammarby Sjöstad, Stockholm, Sweden
Sveriges Riksdag/The Swedish Parliament, Stockholm, Sweden
Swedish Embassy, Vienna, Austria
Nordea Bank, Stockholm, Sweden
Lantmäteriverket Kartbutiken, Stockholm
Lantmäteriverket, Kartcentrum, Stockholm
Nordbanken, Stockholm
AB NöjesHuset, Stockholm
Hotel Continental, Stockholm, Sweden
Grand Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden
SPP, Stockholm, Sweden
Trygg Hansa, Stockholm, Sweden
Kommunalarbetarförbundet, Stockholm, Sweden
Folksam, Stockholm, Sweden
Rank Xerox, Stockholm, Sweden
LRF, Stockholm, Sweden
FOA, Stockholm, Sweden
Botkyrka kommun/Botkyrka Municipality, Stockholm, Sweden
Kabi Pharmacia Upjohn, Stockholm, Sweden
Dutch Embassy, Stockholm, Sweden
KPMG Bohlins, Stockholm, Sweden
Apoteket Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
Ericssons Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
Folksams Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
Rank Xerox Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
Arla Foods Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
Scan Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
Adelsten Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
American Express Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
ASG Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
Electrolux Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
Atlas Copco Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
Skanska Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
Securitas Art Association, Stockholm, Sweden
Art residency
Emma Ricklund Foundation, Marsfjäll, Autumn 2019, Sweden
Malaga, November, 2019, Winter, Spain
Ateljé A-M, Västra Örträsk, Summer 2018, Sweden
Ateljé A-M, Västra Örträsk, Autumn 2018, Sweden
Edö Art, Stockholm Archipelago, Summer 2017, Sweden
Artcollector platform
Artsy, 1stdibs, Artsper, Artprice, Artlimes, ArtMO, Widewalls, Artcloud, ArtBCo
Artist register
Irving Sandler Artists File, DACS, BUS, Artists Rights Society
Artist Grants
Stockholm Studio Grant
Stockholm Work Grant
Publications
Art Reveal Magazine
Lenz Magazine
Aestetica Magazine
Art People
Månads Journalen
Örebro Kuriren
Nerkes Allehanda
Svenska Dagbladet
Private collectors
Stockholm, Malmö, Göteborg, Uppsala, Gävle, Sweden
New York, Miami, Los Angeles, USA
Oslo, Narvik, Norway
Sevilla, Las Palmas, Madrid, Spain
San Jose, Costa Rica
Merida, Mexico
Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam, Netherlands
