Een kleine update: De muren van onze nok voelde een beetje leeg, dus we vroegen onze vriend @koos.devries om ons te helpen. En dit is Koos, in verf en op groot formaat. Ga zitten met een drankje. Jullie zijn in goed gezelschap.
- Don’t want to grow old so I smoke just in case (100x80), oil on linnen, 2024
- Narcissus (200x150), oil on linnen, 2025
- The strong, silent type (50x40), oil on linnen, 2024
- De geboorte van Venus (200x200 ongeveer), airbrush on wood, 2023
Koos de Vries (NL, 1993) creates self-portraits. With the acting talent of a show wrestler, he plays the leading role in his own paintings. In them, he seeks a meaningful interaction between drama, self-mockery and humour. Shame is the main motivation for the creation of his subjects. His disarming honesty has a sobering effect in a world full of digital self-glorification.
De Vries’ reflections on excessive drinking, night-time gaming and stupid comments are executed in oil paint. The classical medium and contemporary subjects form an interesting contrast, which is further enhanced by the art-historical references that the painter incorporates into his work. He refers to religious and mythological painters such as Pieter Paul Rubens, Jacob Cornelisz - van Oostsanen and Masoline di Panicale. Their sacred images form a grand compositional basis for the artist’s concerns. But he also refers to the work of these masters in terms of content. For example, we see De Vries as a contemporary Jesus protecting himself with sunglasses from the bright light of the Stigmata.
The inexplicable urge and pleasure of painting himself is perhaps best expressed in the triptych The Last Beer, The Day After #1 and The Day After #2, which can be seen in the exhibition. These are reflections on an evening when the painter drank too much and the hangover that followed. These close-up paintings are reminiscent of scenes from Billy Wilder’s American film The Lost Weekend, in which actor Ray Milland struggles with alcoholism. The same exaggerated self-pity is evident, with De Vries probably enjoying painting these works as much as Milland enjoyed shooting the film.
Join us for the finissage of duo exhibition Yours Truly this Sunday February 15, from 15.00——17.00 hrs.
📸 Lanxi Berkers
#koosdevries #yourstruly #galeriefleurenwouter
Exhibition Yours Truly is still on view at the gallery until February 15.
In this duo show, the paintings of Mirjam Vreeswijk and Koos de Vries feel like film scenes, with the artists playing the leading roles. Mirjam Vreeswijk’s images are alienating. She is a prop in staged worlds that play with recognition and alienation. Koos de Vries is the B-actor in scenes in which he mocks himself, yet with serious undertones of art-historical references and societal criticism.
The inexplicable urge and pleasure of painting himself is perhaps best expressed in the triptych The Last Beer, The Day After #1 and The Day After #2, which can be seen in the exhibition. These are reflections on an evening when the painter drank too much and the hangover that followed. These close-up paintings are reminiscent of scenes from Billy Wilder’s American film The Lost Weekend, in which actor Ray Milland struggles with alcoholism. The same exaggerated self-pity is evident, with De Vries probably enjoying painting these works as much as Milland enjoyed shooting the film.
📸 @jonathandewaart
#koosdevries #yourstruly #galeriefleurenwouter
Every Time I Speak, I Regret It Immensely (2025) by Koos de Vries
Oil on linen, 70 x 80 cm, artist frame
Koos de Vries (NL, 1993) also created self-portraits exclusively for this exhibition. With the acting talent of a show wrestler, he plays the leading role in his own paintings. In them, he seeks a meaningful interaction between drama, self-mockery and humour. Shame is the main motivation for the creation of his subjects. His disarming honesty has a sobering effect in a world full of digital self-glorification.
Now on view at the gallery in our current duo exhibition Your Truly, featuring self portraits by Mirjam Vreeswijk and Koos de Vries. See link in bio for catalogue.
#koosdevries #yourstruly #galeriefleurenwouter
Koos de Vries, I Need Access to Heaven, 2025, oil on linen, 90 x 110 cm
See link in bio for an overview with all available works of our current duo exhibition Yours Truly, by Mirjam Vreeswijk & Koos de Vries.
#koosdevries #yourstruly #galeriefleurenwouter
The Day After (2025) by Koos de Vries. Now on view in our duo exhibition Yours Truly.
Find our online catalogue for an overview of all available works, including detailed information and pricing, at link in bio and on our website. Or send us a message 💌
The paintings of Mirjam Vreeswijk and Koos de Vries feel like film scenes, with the artists playing the leading roles. Mirjam Vreeswijk’s images are alienating. She is a prop in staged worlds that play with recognition and alienation. Koos de Vries is the B-actor in scenes in which he mocks himself, yet with serious undertones of art-historical references and societal criticism.
We are officially open! Yours Truly, a duo exhibition with paintings by Mirjam Vreeswijk and Koos de Vries.
Many thanks to all of you who conquered the snow storm to join us yesterday and made this into a truly unforgettable evening 🤍☃️✨
@mirjamvreeswijk@koos.devries
#mirjamvreeswijk #koosdevries #galeriefleurenwouter
OPENING TODAY 17——20 hrs: Yours Truly, a duo exhibition with paintings by Mirjam Vreeswijk & Koos de Vries ✨
@mirjamvreeswijk@koos.devries
The paintings of Mirjam Vreeswijk and Koos de Vries feel like film scenes, with the artists playing the leading roles. Mirjam Vreeswijk’s images are alienating. She is a prop in staged worlds that play with recognition and alienation. Koos de Vries is the B-actor in scenes in which he mocks himself, yet with serious undertones of art-historical references and societal criticism.
📸 @jonathandewaart
#mirjamvreeswijk #koosdevries #galeriefleurenwouter
OPENING FRIDAY 17—20 hrs! Yours Truly, a duo exhibition with paintings by @mirjamvreeswijk & @koos.devries
No worries! The doors will be closed and we will keep you warm with beauty and beer. Also, we have heating now, our latest gadget…
The paintings of Mirjam Vreeswijk and Koos de Vries feel like film scenes, with the artists playing the leading roles. Mirjam Vreeswijk’s images are alienating. She is a prop in staged worlds that play with recognition and alienation. Koos de Vries is the B-actor in scenes in which he mocks himself, yet with serious undertones of art-historical references and societal criticism.
📸 @jonathandewaart
#openingfriday #yourstruly #galeriefleurenwouter
