Liet Heringa (’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, 1966) and Maarten van Kalsbeek (Oegstgeest, The Netherlands, 1962) have been working as the artist duo Heringa/Van Kalsbeek since 1998. They live and work in Amsterdam.
Heringa/Van Kalsbeek's sculptures evolve out of a process of action and reaction: one continues where the other stops. Tranquil pieces of liquid synthetic resin, ceramic objects — artificial flowers, casts of corals, strange and warped objects — are fixed onto metal and wooden frames. As if they are painting in space. Heringa/Van Kalsbeek experience this continuous process of molding, curing, turning and molding once again as a capricious adventure. When one gives the sculpture an unexpected twist, the other has to come up with an equally convincing move. This way, a lamination emerges in their works, in a literal and figurative sense. The sculptures are the results of experiment and coincidence: a jumble of materials, colors and lines that form a coherent sculpture in their extremes. They are raw and beautiful at the same time, sculptures with neither beginning nor end. The work of Heringa/Van Kalsbeek is in a way a collage: different elements are put together and form a new shape, a new organism, a new landscape.
Heringa/Van Kalsbeek's work is shown in museums in England, Germany, Italy, Korea and the Netherlands and is represented in many collections all over the world. In 2007, their solo exhibition Cruel Bonsai was shown in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. The exhibition offered an in-depth insight in the development of their work and was well-received by critics and the public.
Heringa/Van Kalsbeek draw their inspiration from the balance between the wonderful and the cruel sides of nature, for example the dead body of a zebra on the savanna, of which the rib cage becomes visible because vultures are rooting about in it, a prickly cactus, the pleasant inside of a tropical flower, blossoming cherry trees in spring. But also: entangled fishing nets on a quayside, embroidered traditional costume, Asian wooden sculptures and 16th–17th century Dutch still life paintings. The flip between nature and culture is essential in their work, exhibiting the transformation from art to a natural object and back again.
EDUCATION
1990
Ateliers ‘63, Haarlem, The Netherlands
1988
Middlesex Polytechnic School of Art, London, UK
1987
Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024–25
Truth or Dare, Paleis Het Loo, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
2023
Springvloed (Spring Tide), Kunstmuseum Den Haag, The Hague, The Netherlands
Study for 'The Grey Tree' (After Mondrian), BorzoGallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2022
Stains of Time, Celadon Terra Cotta Building, New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
2020
Made in Japan, Salon aan het Singel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2019
Common Ground 2: Connect in Color, Akzo Nobel Art Space, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2018
Hunts and Forms, Kunsthandel P. de Boer, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2015
Night Catch, Stedelijk Museum, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
2013
Van Gogh Galerie, Zundert, The Netherlands
2011
Run Silent, Sugar City, Halfweg, The Netherlands
2010
Anna Klinkhammer, Galerie, Düsseldorf, Germany
Prolong 2010, Lowlands Festival and Museum de Fundatie, Heino, The Netherlands
2009
Country Trash, Museum de Fundatie, Heino, The Netherlands
Prolong 2009, Lowlands Festival and Museum de Fundatie, Heino, The Netherlands
Vegas Gallery, London, UK
2008
Prolong 2008, Lowlands Festival and Museum de Fundatie, Heino, The Netherlands
2007
Bird Works, Museum Tongerlohuys, Roosendaal, The Netherlands
Cruel Bonsai, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2006
Galerie Nouvelles Images, The Hague, The Netherlands
2005
Les Néerlandais Voyageurs (The Dutch Travelers), Institut Néerlandais, Paris, France
Galerie Nouvelles Images, The Hague, The Netherlands
2003
Galerie Nouvelles Images, The Hague, The Netherlands
De Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2001
Absorb, Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, The Netherlands
Galerie Nouvelles Images, The Hague, The Netherlands
2000
Haags Gemeentemuseum, The Hague, The Netherlands
1998
Kunstvereniging Diepenheim, Diepenheim, The Netherlands
1997
Bedekt Bloeiend (Bedecked, Blooming), Museum voor Moderne Kunst, Arnhem, The Netherlands
Galerie Nouvelles Images, The Hague, The Netherlands
Museum van Nagsael, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021
Art Rotterdam with BorzoGallery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2020–23
Collection Presentation, Kunstmuseum Den Haag, The Hague, The Netherlands
2020
Collection Presentation, Kröller Müller Museum, Otterlo, The Netherlands
Nabeeld (Afterimage), Park Platform for Visual Arts, Tilburg, The Netherlands
2019
Innenraum (Interior Room), Galerie Anja Knoess, Köln, Germany
Aanwinsten 2018 (Acquisitions 2018), De Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2018
Color and Abstraction, Textiel Museum, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Elspeth Diederix's The Miracle Garden, Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam, The Netherlands
The Collection Stedelijk Base, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2017
So It Grows! An Intimate Eye, Collection Swagemakers, Centraal Museum, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Well Made: In Praise of the Creative Process, Kunsthal Kade, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
BorzoArt Gallery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2016
Fringes of Beauty, TextileMuseum, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Renewed Past, Coda Museum, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
The ABC of Collecting, Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2015
Paradijs (Paradise), Buitenplaats Beeckestijn, Velsen-Zuid, The Netherlands
Art Rotterdam with BorzoGallery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2014
Facing Nature: Collectie de Heus-Zomer, Museum Belvédère, Heerenveen-Oranjewoud, The Netherlands
Natuurkracht (Force of Nature), Coda Museum, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
Art Brussels with BorzoGallery, Brussels, Belgium
Raw Art Fair with BorzoGalelry, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2013
Art Duo Art, Nieuw Dakota, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Cobra tot Dumas (Cobra to Dumas), Collectie De Heus-Zomer, Museum Singer Laren, Laren, The Netherlands
De Grote Kunstshow (The Great Art Show), Stadschouwburg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Expose, Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, The Netherlands
The Multiple Show 3, Vous Etes Ici, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Vanitas: Contemporary Reflections, Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Moscow, Russia
Verlangen Naar Volmaaktheid (Longing for Perfection), Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, The Netherlands
Tefaf Maastricht with BorzoGallery, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2012
Collector’s Items No. 4: Reconnaissance, Dutch Collectors’ Eyes and Some of the Places They Look, Dutch Cultural Pop-Up Projects, London, UK
The East Wing Biennial, The Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London, London, UK
2011
Atelier 60 Kunstenaarsportretten (Atelier 60 Artist Portraits), Vishal, Haarlem, The Netherlands
Art Amsterdam with Vegas Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
London Art Fair with Vegas Gallery, London, UK
Volta Basel with Vegas Gallery, Basel, UK
2010
Andrea Lehmann, Heringa/Van Kalsbeek, Rik Meijers, Aschenbach & Hofland Galleries, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Rood, Tropen Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Virgin, Seoul, South Korea
Art Amsterdam with Vegas Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2009
Ad Infinitum Part I, Vegas Gallery, London, UK
Art Minded V: Ron Klein Breteler Collection, Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam, The Netherlands
Collectors’ Items, The Dutch Cultural Pop-Up Space, London, UK
I Am by Birth a Genovese, Forde Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland
I Am by Birth a Genovese, Vegas Gallery, London, UK
New Loves: Recent Acquisitions, Keramiekmuseum Princessehof Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Art Brussels at Aschenbach Hofland Galleries, Brussels, Belgium
TEFAF Maastricht with Frans Leidelmeijer, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2008
Art Leaves Home: Otto L. Schaap Content Art Consumer, Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2007
Contour/Continuïteit (Contour/Continuity), Museum Het Prinsenhof, Delft, The Netherlands
2006
Biennale di Ceramica nell'Arte Contemporanea, Albisola, Italy
De Collectie Sanders (The Sanders Collection), Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, The Netherlands
Mysterious Celadon, Princessehof, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Van de Velde Vleugel Weer Open (Van De Velde Wing Reopens), Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, The Netherlands
2005
HxBxD = De Rabo Kunstcollectie, Haags Gemeentemuseum, The Hague, The Netherlands
Trans-Ceramic-Art, The Third World Ceramic Biennale, South Korea
2004
Bloemen van Verlangen (Flowers of Desire), Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Enschede
Bodytalk, Beelden aan Zee, Scheveningen
Keine Angst vor Schönheit (Don't Be Afraid of Beauty), Gerhard-Marcks-Haus, Bremen, Germany
Van Airut tot Uppik (From Airut to Uppik), Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, The Netherlands
2002
Best Verzorgde Boeken (Best Designed Books), Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Blur, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
KunstRAI, Galerie Nouvelles Images, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2001
Contemporary Art from the Netherlands, European Central Bank, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Slib: Dutch and British Artists Working with Ceramics, Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem, The Netherlands
Slib: Dutch and British Artists Working with Ceramics, The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich, UK
2000
Appel van Newton (Newton's Apple), Lokaal 01, Breda, The Netherlands
Flaming Youth: 10 Jaar Tentoonstellingen Jonge Kunstenaars (Ten Years of Young Artist Exhibitions), Galerie Nouvelles Images, The Hague, The Netherlands
Huiskamers? Schatkamers! (Living Rooms? Treasure Troves!), Kunst van Vrienden, Paleis Lange Voorhout, The Hague, The Netherlands
KunstRAI, Galerie Nouvelles Images, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1999
Bloemen en Herrie (Flowers and Noise), Galerie Waalkens, Finsterwolde, The Netherlands
Dorothea von Stetten-Kunstpreis (Dorothea von Stetten Art Prize), Kunstmuseum Bonn, Bonn, Germany
KunstRAI, Galerie Nouvelles Images, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mutatis Mutandis, Stedelijk Museum, Zwolle, The Netherlands
Nederlandse Beeldhouwkunst (Dutch Sculpture), Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, The Netherlands
VSB Prijs Beeldende Kunsten (VSB Visual Arts Award), Schiedam, The Netherlands
Wereld van Verschil (World of Difference), Museum voor Moderne Kunst, Arnhem, The Netherlands
West Art of Now Award, KunstRAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1998
Tuinsculptuur (Garden Sculpture), Vleeshal, Haarlem, The Netherlands
1997
Aanwinsten (Acquisitions), Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, The Netherlands
Klein Sculptuur (Small Sculpture), Stedelijke Musea, Gouda, The Netherlands
COMMISSIONS
2023
Hermès, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2020
Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Hart van Austerlitz, Austerlitz, The Netherlands
Hermès, Tokyo, Japan
Sculpture for Garden, Private Collection, Wassenaar, The Netherlands
2019
Outdoor Sculpture, Private Collection, Portugal
2017
Sculpture in Honor of Jakoba Mulder, Beatrixpark, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2015
Textile Museum, Tilburg, The Netherlands
2012
De Stee, Teteringen, The Netherlands
2009
Arcadis Nederland, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
Hogewey, Weesp, The Netherlands
2006
ABN AMRO, IJsseltoren, Zwolle, The Netherlands
2005
Theodoor Gilissen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2002
European Patent Office, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
Basisschool De Rank, Sassenheim (Kunst en Bedrijf), The Netherlands
2001
Waterschap Veluwe, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
Gemeente Amstelveen, The Netherlands
1999
Hogeschool Utrecht, Faculteit Gezondheidszorg, The Netherlands
1998
P.I. te Ter Apel (Rijksgebouwendienst)
1995
Rijksinrichting voor Jongens, de Hartelborgt, Spijkenisse (Rijksgebouwendienst)
1993
Beeld voor de BKB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1992
Belastingkantoor Alkmaar (Rijksgebouwendienst)
COLLECTIONS
ABN AMRO Art Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
ABP Investements
Achmea Kunstcollectie
Aegon
Ahold Kunst Stichting
Akzo Nobel Art Foundation, Arnhem, The Netherlands
Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, NYSCC, Alfred, NY
Andaz
Arcadis Nederland
De Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
DSM
European Patent Office
Houthoff Buruma, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Interpolis, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, The Netherlands
Kunstmuseum Den Haag, The Hague, The Netherlands
LeasePlan
Minsterie van Buitenlandse Zaken
Museum de Fundatie, Heino, The Netherlands
Museum voor Moderne Kunst, Arnhem, The Netherlands
MuseumgoudA, Gouda, The Netherlands
Princessehof, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Rabobank Kunstcollectie
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam, The Netherlands
Stedelijk Museum, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
Textiel Museum, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Theodoor Gillissen
UMC, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Vincent van Gogh Huis, Zundert, The Netherlands
VUMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
World Ceramic Biennale, South Korea
Private Collections