Paul Smulders

PAUL SMULDERS
Born 6-12-1962. Lives and works in Amsterdam.

EDUCATION:
1987-1988
La Nuova Accademia delle Bell’ Arti di Milano, Italy 
1983-1987
Akademie voor Beeldende Kunsten Amsterdam, The Netherlands

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2019 Wandering the Unknown, Galleri NB, Viborg, DK
2019 Outside Inside, SBK Zuid, Galerie 18, Amsterdam, NL
2018 
Current Serendipities, Gallery Project 2.0, The Hague, NL
2017 
SBK Breda, NL
2016
REFLECTIONS, galleri NB, Viborg, DK
Painted, Appells Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
Inside Outside, Appels Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
2015
FRESH PAINT BIENNIAL 2015 i Cincinnati, Ohio U.S.A.
Inside Outside, galleri NB, Viborg Denmark
2014
Intervision, Galerie Clement, Amsterdam, NL
Materie, Haus 34a, Bad Bentheim, D
2013
Serendipity Yours, galleri NB Viborg, Denmark
2012
Kunstgalleriet, Stavanger, NO 
galleri NB, Viborg, DK 
2011
LANDMARKS, galleri NB, Viborg, DK
TUSSEN TOEKOMST EN VERLEDEN ,Galerie de Boog, IJsselstein, NL
BRUSHDAYS, galleri NB, Copenhagen, DK
2010 
URBAN TOPICS, galleri NB, Roskilde Gasvaerk, Roskilde, DK
ART AT TRADITION, Beaufort House, London, UK
Galerie de Compagnie, Dordrecht, NL
2009 
Kunstgalleriet, Stavanger, NO
2008
Galerie De Groene Poort, Middenbeemster, NL
galleri NB, Viborg, DK
2007 
Galerie Willy Schoots, Eindhoven, NL
Galerie De Boog, IJsselstein, NL
galleri NB, Gasvaerk, Roskilde, DK
2005
Gemeentehuis Diemen, NL
galleri NB, Viborg, DK
Lithographic Studio Aad Hekker, 1998-2005,Amsterdam, NL
2004
KunstRai Art Fair,Galerie Willy Schoots, NL
Kunstkabinet,werken op papier, Galerie Willy Schoots, NL
Galerie de Compagnie, Dordrecht, NL
galleri NB, Gasvaerk, Roskilde, DK
2003 
Galerie Gora, Montréal,QC, CA
Galerija Vartai, Vilnius, LT
galleri NB, Viborg ,DK
2002 
Museum Jan van der Togt, Amstelveen, NL
galleri NB Rosklide Gasvaerk Roskilde, DK
Galerie Willy Schoots, Eindhoven, NL
2001 
galleri NB, Viborg ,DK
Goethe Institute, Amsterdam, NL
2000
Galerie Willy Schoots, Chasse Theater , Breda, NL
Galerie Danoise, Parijs, F 
1999
The Gallery, Laren , NL
galleri NB, Viborg, DK
1998
Galerie Willy Schoots, Eindhoven, NL
1997
galleri NB, Viborg, DK
1996
Galerie Contempo, Rotterdam, NL
Galerie Nijehove, Diepenheim, NL
The Gallery, Laren , NL
1995
KunstRai Art Fair,Galerie C.M. Kooring, , Amsterdam, NL
1994
Galerie Willy Schoots, Eindhoven, NL
1993
Galerie C.M. Kooring, Amsterdam, NL
1992
Galerie C.M. Kooring, Amsterdam, NL
1991
Herenhuis Galerie, Enkhuizen, NL
Kunstgalerij Duphar Chemie NV, Weesp, NL
1990
Kon. Ned. Vliegtuigfabriek FOKKER NV, Amsterdam, NL
Broeckhove Galerie, Amsterdam, NL

GROUP SHOWS:
2019  
Guest Artist in Beemster Art Tour 2019, Middenbeemster, NL
Group Show, Galerie LOOF, Jubbega, NL  
KunstRai, Art Fair, Amsterdam, Gallery Project 2.0,, NL
2018
KunstRAI, NL
2017
KunstRai, Amsterdam, NL
2016
ArtCopenhagen, Art Fair, galleri NB, Copenhagen, DK
KunstRai 2016, Amsterdam, NL
2015
G.R.A.F.O. Vilnius, Litauen
Realisme ’15 Art Fair, Archaeopteryx Contemporary Graphic Art, Amsterdam, NL
2014
Grafiek en Ruimte, Pulchri Grafic-Biennale, The Hague, NL
Town Hall Diemen, Diemen, NL
ArtCopenhagen, Art Fair, galleri NB, Copenhagen, DK
Summer Exhibition, Galerie Clement, Amsterdam, NL
Litho’s met een S, Nederlands Steendruckmuseum, Valkenswaard, NL
Germen-Dutch Graohic Art Fair, Borken, D
KunstRAI, Art Fair, Galerie Clement, Amsterdam, NL
ArtHerning, Art Fair, galleri NB, Viborg, DK
Accomplices, Tetem Kunstruimte, Enschede, NL
2013
Art Vilnius 2013, Galleri NB, LT
Kompilzen,Ostrale 2013, Dresden, D
Met Verve, Galerie de boog, IJsselstein, NL
Opening exhibition Gallery Janssen, Eindhoven, NL
Art Herning, Galleri NB, Viborg, DK
In Between Trees, Galleri NB, Viborg, DK
RE Rotterdam Art Fair, Verfhond, Rotterdam, NL
2012 
Art Herning, galleri NB, Viborg, DK
Appels Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
Galerie Willy Schoots, Eindhoven, NL
2011
REALISME '11, Galerie Bianca Landgraaf, Amsterdam, NL
Art Herning, galleri NB, Viborg, DK
"Dusty Days", Serieuze Zaken Studioos/Rob Malasch, Amsterdam, NL
Art Copenhagen, galleri NB, Copenhagen, DK
2010
REALSME ´10, Galerie Bianca Landgraaf, Amsterdam, NL
Art Herning, galleri NB, Viborg, DK
Archaeopterix Jubilee Exhibition, ISS, The Hague, NL
Archaeopterix Jubilee Exhibition, Gerechtsgebouw Rotterdam, NL
RELIKVIE MORTUM, galleri NB, Viborg, DK
Amsterdan Erotica, Boven´s Galerie, Amsterdam, NL
Art Copenhagen, galleri NB, DK
Archaeopterix Jubilee Exhibition, Saxion, Deventer/Enschede, NL
Archaeopterix Jubilee Exhibition, Lithographic Museum, Valkenswaard, NL
2009
REALISME '09, Galerie Willy Schoots, Amsterdam, NL
Art Herning, galleri NB, Denmark
TRANSMISSION, Galerie Willy Schoots, Amsterdam, NL
2008
Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, Dubai, U.A.E
REALISME '08, Galerie Willy Schoots, Amsterdam, NL
Art Copenhagen, galleri NB, DK
"QUANT À MOI ", 40 years Gallery Willy Schoots, Eindhoven, NL
2007
Art Herning, galleri NB, DK
"Bite Open Art", 3rd International Workshop, Klaipeda, LT
Art Copenhagen, galleri NB, DK
"Kunst van Geld" , Geldmuseum, Utrecht, NL
2006
Art Copenhagen, galleri NB, DK
VII International Graphic Triennale,Chamalière, F
Museum Nagele, Nagele, NL
Marienlyst Castle, Helsingore, DK
2005
Gerechtsgebouw Rotterdam (Court) i.c.w. Philip van Tol, NL
2004
“FUSION”, Gallery Katharsis, Copenhagen, DK
2003
“From Topos to Topos “, Galleria Finarte, Nagoya City, J
“Tot hier en verder”, 35 years Galerie Willy Schoots, Eindhoven, NL
2002
After the Chrysalis, Galerie des Künstlershaus Hamburg , D
Galerija Vartai, Vilnius, LT
“Het kwaad in Beeld”, Worldwar II memorial , Cityhall Diemen, NL
“De Publikaties”, Galerie Willy Schoots, Eindhoven, NL
2001
Floor-Wall-Ceiling,Galerija Vartai, Vilnius, LT
2000
Summerexhibition Galerie Danoise, Paris , F
1999
KunstRai Art Fair, The Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
ART Copenhagen Art Fair, galleri NB, DK
Millenniumproject,Galerie Willy Schoots, Eindhoven, NL
1998
A.R.T. Kunstmesse Herning, galleri NB, DK
“30 Years Galerie Willy Schoots “, Eindhoven, NL
1997
KunstRai Art Fair,The Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
ART Copenhagen Art Fair, galleri NB, DK
100 young Dutch Painters ,Isle of Ameland, NL
1996
KunstRai Art Fair, Galerie Nijehove, Amsterdam, NL 

FESTIVAL | WORKSHOP
2015
Viborg International Billboard Painting Workshop, Denmark

Paul Smulders (born in Breda in 1962) is a painter through and through. He has chosen the painting process as the theme of his work.
There is no preconceived plan. Instead, he lets his artist’s  materials lead him where they want to go. He employs various types of paints, inks and varnish, allowing them to interact in a sort of alchemy. The colours are left to mix freely resulting in something the painter himself initiated but which largely takes place in an unpredictable manner.

Of course even Smulders cannot avoid imposing order on his materials, but at the same time he gives them  as much space as possible, so they can be a deciding factor in the ultimate composition.

The main theme of his current series are motifs from the natural environment. Yet the paintings  do not wish to give the idea of being perfect reflections of nature. Painting is not merely a question of creating an image. It also involves bringing artistic materials – which in themselves have no meaning – to life. The paint and the gestures made in the act of painting represent the sensory element in the artistic process, whereas the eventual image is in fact a form of order and organisation.

            Smulders’ work shows not only landscape motifs but also the vigour that is evident in nature. In fact, his paintings reveal the interaction between two sorts of nature: there is the natural effect of art that is as uninhibited as possible, and this competes on the canvas with the age-old design that characterises living nature. His work looks like a dynamic tissue of organic forms but it could also be regarded as abstract, a work that does not refer directly to nature at all.

You could say about Smulders’ paintings: “They are nature’s fabric, having the unity you would expect from nature”. The struggle between image and material, and between structure and chaos is palpable when you look at his work. He wants the image to become paint and paint to become the image. There is certainly a suggestion of figurative work in his paintings, but only beneath the surface. The figurative and the abstract are experienced simultaneously in the canvas.