Michael Berkhemer

MICHAEL BERKHEMER (22-3-1948 - 15-8-2022)
ACADEMY OF FINE ART, ARNHEM, THE NETHERLANDS

Artist's statement

My art stems from a translation of the visual impressions that surrounds us, like reflections, and shadows, dark and light. This translation is not a literal one. I distil these impressions into sober compositions of line and colour. However the underlaying structure is complex. Underneath the apparent calm they exude, the paintings as well as the wallsculptures, reveal a dynamic process of many layers of paint in a multitude of colours.

In addition to paintings and wallsculptures I have printed monumental collagraphs in cooperation with Wildwood Press, St. Louis, USA.

Solo Exhibitions (selection)

 
2022 Art The Hague
2021 Jan Six Fine Art, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2019 Kunstruimte KuuB, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2016 Unquiet Calm, S1 Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2015 Minder/meer, galerie Oranjerie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2013 - 2014 Thema's & Variaties, Landgoed Leusderend, Leusden, The Netherlands
2008 - 2009 Michael Berkhemer, retrospective, Museum Mondriaanhuis, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
2007 Galerie Billing Bild, Baar, Switzerland
A Print Retrospective, Wildwood Press, St. Louis, MO, USA
2005 Galerie Clement, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Museum Waterland, Purmerend, The Netherlands
2004 Galerie Billing Bild, Baar, Switzerland
2001 Parallele Universien, Gruppe Grün, Bremen (duo), Germany
2000 William Shearburn Gallery, St. Louis, MO, USA
Galerie Billing Bild, Baar, Switzerland
Ingenieurbüro Laqua, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
1999 Galerie Maria Chailloux, Amsterdam (duo), The Netherlands
Nicolette Brink Kunstzaken, Nieuwerbrug (duo), The Netherlands
1997 Interferenties, Museum Henriëtte Polak, Zutphen, The Netherlands
Het Oude Raadhuis, Aalsmeer, The Netherlands
1996 Galerie Maria Chailloux, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1994 Galerie Maria Chailloux, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1973 - 1993 Various solo exhibitions
 

Group Exhibitions (selection)

 
2020 Groepstentoonstelling "vier", Haagse Kunstkring, Den Haag, The Netherlands
2020 Contemporary Art Stuff - Collector's Selection II, Galerie Billing Bild, Baar, Switzerland
2018 KunstRai, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2017 Seattle Art Fair, Seattle, WA USA
INK Miami Art Fair, Miami, FL USA
2016 Arti Salon, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
INK Miami Art Fair, (Wildwood Press), Art Basel, Miami, FL USA
Wildwood Press 20 years, The Mitchell Museum, Cedarhurst Art Center, Mt. Vernon, IL USA
This Art Fair, Beurs van Berlage (S1 Gallery), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Natura Mystica, Kunsthal Almelo, The Netherlands
Museum Waterland veertig jaar, Museum Waterland, Purmerend, The Netherlands
KunstRai (Galerie Oranjerie), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Rotterdam, Contemporary Art Fair (Galerie Oranjerie), Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2014 Natura Mystica, Landgoed Leusderend, Leusden
INK Miami Art Fair, Wildwood Press, Art Basel, Miami, FL USA
Kleinbeeld , Museum Waterland, Purmerend
2013 'Het oog van de meester', Museum Henriëtte Polak, Zutphen, The Netherlands
Art Karlsruhe, Germany, (Bruijstens, Modern Art), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2012 Mark Making, prints from Wildwood Press, Saint Louis University Museum of Art, St. Louis, MO, USA
2011 ‘Colour Matters’, K 09 Groningen (NL)
'In abstracto', Galerieartipoli, Noorden, The Netherlands
'A printer's spotlight. 15 years of Wildwood Press, Gallery 210, University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO, USA
'Island Press. Three decades of printmaking', Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, St. Louis, MO, USA
'Printer/Publisher/Artist/Patron. Courtney Obata and Wildwood Press', Bonsack Gallery, St. Louis, MO, USA
2010 Kunst Zürich (Galerie Billing Bild), Switzerland
Bagagehal Loods 6 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2009 - 2010 Arti et Amicitiae Amsterdam The Netherlands
2009 Art Chicago 2009 Merchandise Mart Chicago, IL USA
2008 Pulchri, Den Haag, The Netherlands
Aqua Art Miami Wynwood Distict Miami, FL USA
Art Chicago 2008 Merchandise Mart Chicago, IL USA
Works in Progress/Prints From Wildwood Press Faulconer Gallery, Grinnell College Grinnell, Iowa USA Curator Dan Strong
2007 Art at the Hilton, Dubai, Onderneming en Kunst, Emirate of Dubai
Art Amsterdam (Galerie Clement) The Netherlands
Wildwood Press/Ten Years Bennington College Usdan Gallery Bennington, Vermont USA
2006 Convoi Exceptionelle, Galerie Maria Chailloux, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Klein Grafiek van Grafiek Nu, Museum de Buitenplaats, Eelde and Voerman Museum, Hattem, The Netherlands
Flow, Satellite Fair, Art Basel Miami Beach (Wildwood Press) USA
Galerie Clement, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Art Amsterdam (Galerie Clement) The Netherlands
2005 Kunst Zürich (Galerie Billing Bild) Switzerland
2004 Kunst Zürich (Galerie Billing Bild) Switzerland
Galerie Clement, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2003 - 2008 Represented repeatedly at Art Chicago (Wildwood Press, St. Louis, MO), USA
2003 Galerie Clement, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
De verborgen Kindertekening, Het Oude Raadhuis, Aalsmeer, The Netherlands
2002 Editions 2002, Chelsea (Wildwood Press) New York, NY, USA
Grafiek Nu, Singer Museum, Laren, The Netherlands
2000 - 2005 Represented at Art Fairs in Frankfurt and Cologne (Octagon)Germany
2000 Washington University Gallery of Art, St. Louis, MO, USA
Into Gold, De Vishal, Haarlem, The Netherlands
1998 Colour – Matter – Energy, Nederlandse Bank and Hoge School van Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1996 Galerie Jansen en Kooy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Art Fair Stockholm (Galerie Jansen en Kooy) Sweden
Multiples, Galerie Maria Chailloux, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Art Multiple, (Galerie Jansen en Kooy) Düsseldorf, Germany
1995 Bewogen Verleden, Museum Flehite, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
Colour – Matter – Energy, Kunsthalle Oberhausen, Germany
Groeten aan Dordrecht, Pictura, Dordrecht, The Netherlands
1994 KunstRai, Colour – Matter – Energy (Galerie Maria Chailloux) Amsterdam, The  Netherlands
1993 KunstRai (Galerie Maria Chailloux) Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Stichting 40 - 45, Headquarters Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1992 Galerie Phoebus, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Colour - Matter - Energy, Galerie Maria Chailloux, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1973 - 1991 Various group exhibitions
 

Commissions

 
2012 5 Wallsculptures, Media Buying Systems, Amsterdam
2008 Design for a Wall, silkscreen on aluminium, three parts: 251 x 573 cm, 163 x 160 cm, and 251 x 573 cm, Cruise Ship Solstice, commissioned by International Corporate Art, Oslo, Norway
2008 Wall Sculpture, oxidated copper leaf on wood, ? 150 x 4 cm, Corporate Collection, The Netherlands
2006 Two Paintings, acrylic on canvas, 100 x 80 cm, 120 x 100 cm, ING Headquarters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2003 Installation of Wall Sculptures for three interior spaces: 7 wall sculptures, 130 x 13 x 3 cm; 5 wall sculptures, 60 x 4 x 3 cm; 10 wall sculptures, 30 x 10 x 3; all gold leaf on wood, Cruise Ship Serenade of the Seas, commissioned by London Corporate Art, London, England – Oslo, Norway
2002 Installation of 5 Wall Sculptures, gold leaf on wood, 50 x ? 15 cm, Joost en Marcelle Kuiper-Gerlach, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2002 Two Silkscreens, 74 x 56 cm, edition of 50 each, Royal Nederland Levensverzekeringen, Utrecht, The Netherlands
2002 Installation of Wall Sculptures for three conference rooms: 10 wall sculptures, platinum leaf on wood, 170 x 28 x 3 cm; 10 wall sculptures, gold leaf on wood, 80 x 18 x 3 cm; 13 wall sculptures 80 x 30 x 3 cm, gold leaf on wood, Loyens & Loeff, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2002 Installation of 11 Wall Sculptures, gold leaf on wood, 90 x 20 x 3 cm, Cruise Ship M.S. Statendam V, commissioned by Onderneming & Kunst, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1999 Installation of 28 Wall Sculptures, gold leaf on wood, 28 x 18 x 2 cm; Painting, acrylic on canvas, 390x 210 cm, Bravilor Bonamat BV, Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands
1998 Design of the color scheme for the facades of Het Fort, Schilderswijk, The Hague, commissioned by de Principaal via Maria Chailloux, The Netherlands
1995 Installation of 7 Wall Sculptures, 140 x 20 – 110 x 5 cm, acrylic on canvas on wood, Gemeentelijke Geneeskundige en Gezondheidsdienst, City of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1994 Silkscreen, 60 x 46 cm, edition of 175, TC TeamConsult, The Hague, The Netherlands
1993 Silkscreen, 35 x 30 cm, edition of 10 , Stichting 40 – 45, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1991 Painting (5 panels), acrylic on canvas, 200 x 200 cm, Antonius Verpleeghuis, IJsselmonde, The Netherlands
1991 Painting (5 panels), acrylic on canvas, 200 x 200 cm, commissioned for a public space by the City of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
 

Selected Bibliography

 

Colour Matters, part 3, Stichting Kunstruimte 09, Groningen, NL, 2011, pp. 28-31

Veranda, Atlanta, U.S.A. march 2011, ps 111-113

C. Homburg (ed.), Michael Berkhemer, with essays by C. Homburg, E. van Uitert, interview by J. Klein, eng/ned, 160 ps, 2008, Waanders Publishers, ISBN 978-90-400-8520-8

C. Homburg, ‘I am not a printmaker, I am a painter who makes prints’, and J. Klein, Interview with Michael Berkhemer in: Michael Berkhemer: A Print Retrospective, St. Louis MO, USA (Wildwood Press) 2007

klein Grafiek van Grafiek Nu , exhib. cat. Eelde, (Museum de Buitenplaats) / Hattem (Voerman Museum) 2006/07, p. 12

R. Ayers, ‘Art Basel Miami: The new fairs, part 2: Flow’, www.artinfo.com, 8 December 2006,

M. Visser, ‘Serenade of the Seas’, Kunstbeeld, 9 (2003) p. VI

Royal Nederland. Kunstcollectie, 2002/03, Utrecht 2003, pp. 13-15

Grafiek Nu 10, exib. cat. Laren (Singer Museum) 2002, p. 34

H.-J. Manske, ’Franz Immoos und Michael Berkhemer’ in: P.-J. Splettstösser, 30 Jahre Gruppe Grün 1971-2001, Bremen 2002, pp. 165-167, 222-4

E. van Uitert, ‘Een kunstschilder die zijn objecten patineert met bladgoud’, Kunstschrift, 45 (2001) 6, pp. 42-45

A.W. Lloyd, ‘Art under the Arch’, Art in America, July 2001, pp. 43-47, 112

F. Hirsch, ‘Make it Big’, Art on Paper, 6 (2001), p. 25

T. Stierli, ‘Abstraktion und Expression,’ Neue Zuger Zeitung, 8 September 2000

J. Daniel, ‘Michael Berkhemer, Recent Works on Paper’, Saint Louis Post Dispatch, 30 January 2000

M. van Ark, Het Fort. Schilderswijk behoudt karakteristiek complex, Den Haag 2000

R. Adam, C. Robertson, Intaglio: Acrylic-Resist Etching, Collagraphy, Engraving, Drypoint, Mezzotint, London 2000, pp. 228-229

R. Kulschewsky, Austragungsort. Verein für Aktuelle Kunst Ruhrgebiet e.v. 1982-1997, Oberhausen 1997, p. 103

A. den Ridder, ‘Michael Berkhemer exposeert in Museum Henriëtte Polak. Schilden van gestold licht’, Gelders Dagblad, 5 February 1997

L. Delfgaauw, Bij het werk van Michaël Berkhemer. Interferenties. Schilderijen van Michaël Berkhemer, Zutphen (Museum Henriëtte Polak) 1997

B. Jonckheer, De kunstenaars van AXA-Leven, Den Haag 1996, pp. 4-7

A. Matena, Bewogen verleden, Zwolle 1995, pp. 18-19

F. Op de Coul, ‘Expositie Berkhemer in Heusden. Sterke beleving van materie en vormen’, Brabants Dagblad, 19 April 1993

Eric Beets, ‘‘Magische’ gouaches en ‘Wintertent’ in het KCB’, Alkmaarse Courant, 9 January 1986

N. Scheepmaker, interview met Michael Berkhemer, Avenue, April 1976, pp. 30-33