Woody van Amen

Kunsthal Rotterdam presents a retrospective of work by the Rotterdam artist Woody van Amen (1936). Marking his ninetieth birthday, the exhibition pays tribute to one of the most influential Dutch artists of the post-war avantgarde. In the 1960s, Van Amen travelled to the United States where he met artists like Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg. The art scene he encountered there was preoccupied with everyday objects, brand names, and images from consumer society.

From pop art paintings and assemblages to his iconic taxat designs: the exhibition shows how Van Amen has been constantly testing the boundaries of visual culture, technology, and spirituality. With his playful, direct, and pointed formal language, this artist has managed to stay relevant to this day.

Cover image: Woody van Amen, Pura Melanting, 1978, mixed techniques | courtesy of EENWERK