Joost Krijnen (Breda, 1983), living and working in Amsterdam, has developed a distinctive body of work that explores the limitless potential of drawing. In his latest large-scale works on paper, his signature line drawings interact with bold expanses of acrylic color. These compositions reflect a delicate balance between spontaneity and structure, offering a joy for the eyes, both in detail and overall composition.
Alongside these large works, Krijnen’s small drawings capture his speed and intuition. Rapidly created, one after another, these drawings reveal new forms, faces, and scenes with every stroke. The fast-paced, improvisational nature of these pieces invites the viewer into a world where figures constantly transform—humans become animals, masks shift into abstract forms. Each drawing feels like a momentary snapshot in an ongoing process of discovery and reinvention.
Krijnen’s recent lithographs, created at the Nederlands Steendrukmuseum in Valkenswaard, further expand on the themes explored in his drawings. Painted directly on the stone, each lithograph is produced in multiple colorways, adding a new layer of complexity to his work. These prints echo the familiar faces, figures, and abstract forms seen in his earlier exhibitions, yet the medium of lithography allows for a different kind of expression—one that highlights his deep engagement with line, form, and color in fresh, unexpected ways.
Together, these works—whether expansive or intimate—demonstrate Krijnen’s dynamic approach to his medium. His ability to balance humor and darkness, precision and chaos, showcases an artist who continually redefines the possibilities of drawing, offering a unique visual language that is both immediate and profound.
Krijnen studied Fine Arts at Sint Joost Academy in Breda (2003–2007) and was a resident at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam (2013–2014). Further to his recent solo exhibition Choir of Nonsense (2024) at m.simons, Amsterdam, his work has been featured in prominent group shows such as Liefde voor Tekenen (2024) at the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam and Pratende papegaaien lezen niet (2022) at Cokkie Snoei in Rotterdam. Recognized for his contribution to contemporary drawing, Krijnen’s accolades include the prestigious Koninklijke Prijs voor Vrije Schilderkunst (2015) and the De Scheffer Prize (2015). His work is in various public and corporate collections, including Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Schunck*, Heerlen, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam and Albert Heijn, Zaandam.
