16 october 2026, Flor Linckens
30 Perspectives on the Maastricht art scene at Marieke Severens Gallery during Maastricht Gallery Weekend
This weekend marks the opening of the second edition of ‘30 x 30 x 30’ at Marieke Severens Gallery. The exhibition’s title immediately reveals the rules: thirty artists, a maximum size of thirty by thirty centimetres and a radius of thirty kilometres around Maastricht. How many different perspectives can be accommodated within these parameters? The group exhibition, which opens on 16 October during Maastricht Gallery Weekend, was organised in collaboration with curator Roy Voragen. It offers artists from the region an opportunity to present their work to a wider audience. A total of ninety works will be on display.
The participating artists were selected through an open call, that invited both recent graduates and artists with more established careers. The resulting selection offers a diverse picture of the art that is currently being made in Maastricht and its surrounding area, without the constraints of an overarching theme or a shared artistic style. Here, thirty artists who work in close geographical proximity represent remarkably different artistic worlds.
What the exhibited works do share is their use of material: paper. But the way in which this material is applied varies considerably. In ‘30 x 30 x 30’, you encounter drawings, prints, collages, photography and forms of visual poetry. Some artists use paper as a neutral surface for their ideas, while others explore the material’s inherent qualities and possibilities. The relatively small scale of the works encourages you to take a closer look, so you observe details that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The participating artists are Anita Damas, Arno Sijben, Chantal Le Doux, Caroline Sarneel, Christiane Steffens, Dorine van der Ploeg, Eliane Geurts, Elli Ott, Gladys Zeevaarders, Han Rameckers, Islam Abdelkader, Jacqueline Machado de Souza, Jet Nuij, Jean-Paul Caelen, Jo Frenken, Maria Vita Goral, Marta Volkova, Martine van Bijlert, Michiel Romme, Mireille Brouwer, Nieke Lemmens, Satellite June, Noëlle Cuppens, Pablo Hannon, Paul Drissen, Prisca Sinay, Sara Bachour, Slava Shevelenko, Ton Slits and Wouter Huis.
Behind ‘30 x 30 x 30’ lies an ambition that extends beyond these ninety works. The gallery is committed to fostering a strong, vibrant and visible art ecosystem in Maastricht and the surrounding region. Artists often work independently and gaining visibility beyond their existing networks is not always easy. Through this open call, the gallery also provides a platform for artists who had not previously been on its radar. The intention is to make the exhibition an annual event, making sure that new connections between artists, galleries, collectors and audiences get a chance to develop and deepen over time.
All works in the show are offered at a price of €450, including VAT and framing, regardless of the artist’s track record. This gives visitors the opportunity to acquire an original artwork while supporting an artist from the region in a direct way.
The exhibition opens during the fifth edition of Maastricht Gallery Weekend, that takes place from 16 to 18 October. Eighteen galleries across the city will open their doors then, with extended opening hours until 10 pm on Friday evening. Alongside exhibitions, the weekend programme includes performances, artist talks, workshops and live music.
