City guide: Art in Amsterdam (III)

Even though it's Monday there are only three official workdays left, so let's start the weekend countdown early! If you haven't made any plans yet then Gallerease is happy to provide you with enough activities for the four-day Hemelvaart weekend. We would love to introduce you to three of the leading galleries for modern and contemporary art in the art-heart of Amsterdam. These colourful artworks form a lovely compliment to all the sunshine we are about to receive.

Gallery 9
This contemporary art gallery is housed in an elegant canal side building on the Keizersgracht.

The focus of Gallery 9 lies on non-figurative and mostly minimalistic contemporary art, both two and three-dimensional in form. The artists that are represented by gallery 9 often make use of organic materials within their pieces. For example, take the work of Rob van Leeuwen (1959).

Over the years his desire to work more closely with the earth became stronger. For his ‘blue source 3’ he used natural matter like sand, lime and stone to replace traditional artistic materials. In stead of traditional artist’s tools, he returned to using his hands and he also relied upon the forces of nature for its completion. Living near to the mouth of the river Rhine, he connected with the source of the river through his work, following the artistic stream that was initiated.

      
_{Rob van Leeuwen (1959), Blue source 1, nat. materials on gypsum board, 60 x 40 cm., 2015. Gallery 9 contemporary art, Keizersgracht 548 Amsterdam.}  

Gallery Delaive
The works of leading Modern and Contemporary artists like Karel Appel, Walasse Ting, Avako Rokkaku and Niki de Saint Phalle can be admired here. Amongst the highlights is a large collection of works by Sam Francis (1923–1994). 

Okker Art Gallery
Tom Okker Art is a specialist in the field of modern & contemporary art, photography and Cobra Art. Original works by Karel Appel, Corneille and Andy Warhol are on display in their gallery.

The artworks on offer are attractive for a wide range of art lovers, for example this colourful and experimental work by Kees Salentijn (1947). His artwork is famous for it’s diversity, but always has a Mediterranean feel to it, taking inspiration from Spanish culture and tradition.

With his cheerful Cobra imagery, Salentijn hopes he can bring people a different perspective.

_{Kees Salentijn (1947), Dos en la playa, acryl on canvas, 40 x 35 cm., 2016. Okker Art Gallery, Vijzelstraat 125, Amsterdam.}