Femmy Otten brings reliefs, drawings and paintings and sculptures together in mysterious wall installations that evoke the suggestion of a completely unique myth. Her work evokes associations both formally and symbolically with Greek and Etruscan antiquity, Renaissance frescoes and, at the same time, wooden sculptures by Stephan Balkenhol, with the occasional touch of abstract art. The recognizable references are effortlessly combined by Otten into a unique symbolism: mythological creatures, abstract emblems, domestic elements and absent gaze come together in its atmospheric iconography.
Artworks
Articles
Media
Highlights
Recommendations
Collections
Shows
Market position
CV
Media
Hollandse Meesters - Femmy Otten
Portrait of artist Femmy Otten in the Hollandse Meesters series. Directed by Xander de Boer, 2020.
Highlights
About
NRC Handelsblad
Femmy Otten has paint on the flat surface. In the Ketelfactory in Schiedam, her sculpted sculptures nestle in the walls. Two classic faces, for example, between loose ears, eyes, noses. At the top of the wall, a miniature free-standing couple emerges. At the bottom, on a yellow post-it leaf, a sketch of an infant flies - that came from it. Otten recently became a mother and the consequence is this show, which she called Slow Down Love. Calm-to-love - with art that is about something that is seldom about. About the eroticism of motherhood, with the new sex of the net-mother with the net-father. You just have to dare.
Joyce Roodnat
Shows
Market position
Femmy Otten's work is part of the collections of the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam; SCHUNCK, Heerlen; Drents Museum, Assen. Her work is also included in the collections of the ABN AMRO and AKZO NOBEL and various well-known private collections.
CV
Born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1981
Lives and works in The Hague, The Netherlands
www.femmyotten.nl
Education / residencies
2013 Aterlier Holsboer, Cité des Arts, Paris, France
2010 - 2012 Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2009 - 2010 Higher Institute for Fine Art HISK, Ghent, Belgium
1999 - 2004 BA fine art, Royal Academy of Arts, The Hague, The Netherlands
1998 - 1999 Vooropleiding Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Solo exhibitions
2018
Schunck, Heerlen
2017
Drents Museum, Assen, The Netherlands
One Year in Ten, Ketelfactory, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2016
Days Undressed, Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2014
And life is over there, Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2012
If you were coming in the fall, Galerie Fons Welters, Playstation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Yellow Minutes, where time has lost its relevance, P///AKT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2010
The seven joys of Mary, Maes & Matthys, Antwerp, Belgium
Group exhibitions
2018
Hollandse Nieuwe, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Schiedam, the Netherlands
Nothing is Permanent, Manifesta In House Exhibition, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (upcoming)
Project Muren, Geraardsbergen, Belgium (upcoming)
Who Are We Again?, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
New Arrivals II, Schunck*, Heerlen (icw Stedelijk Museum Schiedam), The Netherlands
Some Things Hidden, Framer Framed, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2017
Die Welle, 8. Salon, hamburg, Germany
Transcruptie, Black Swan Gallery, Brugge, Belgium
Between Earth and Heaven II, Acerta, Brugge, Belgium
2016
10 jaar de Volkskrant Beeldende Kunst Prijs, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, The Netherlands (forthcoming)
Preview, Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Atlantis na Plato, Croxhapox, Ghent, Belgium
Ritual and The Sacred, Route du Nord, ZoHo, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2015
Minor Heroisms, Galeri Zilberman, Istanbul, Turkey
Meditations on a hobby horse, CIAP, Hasselt, Belgium
2015
Minor Heroisms, Galeri Zilberman, Istanbul, Turkey
The restless gods, Predikherenkerk and Museum M, Leuven, Belgium
Meditations on a hobby horse, CIAP, Hasselt, Belgium
2014
The restless gods, Predikherenkerk and Museum M, Leuven, Belgium
Westenwind, Galerie Martin Kudlek, Cologne, Germany
Presentation state portraits by Rineke Dijkstra, Femmy Otten and
Iris van Dongen, Paleis het Loo, The Netherlands
Een nieuwe koning, een nieuw portret, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Stille Kracht, De Warande, Turnhout, Belgium
2013
This is the school and the school is many thinks, KABK, The Hague, The Netherlands
ERROR #21: Shame! (Hide and Show), A project by ERROR ONE in collaboration with Pianofabriek Sint-Gillis, Brussels
Volkskrant Beeldende Kunst Prijs, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, The Netherlands
2012
Rijksakademie open studio’s, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Koninklijke Prijs voor Vrije Schilderkunst. Royal Palace, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Figuurlijk. Museum Hilversum, Hilversum, The Netherlands
Return on Invest. Stroom, The Hague, The Netherlands
2011
Rijksakademie open studio’s, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Afterlife, Museum Tot Zover, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Koninklijke prijs voor vrije schilderkunst, Royal palace, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Wat zijn mij wolken nog en wegen, Curated by Hanne Hagenaars en Gijs Asman, Kunstvereninging, Diepenheim, The Netherlands
Zomeropstelling, Groupshow, Maurits van der Laar, the Hague, The Netherlands
2010
Thank you for tomorrow. curated by Jan Debbout, De zwarte zaal, Ghent, Belgium
Hydrarchy: Power and Resistance at Sea. curated by Mia Jankowicz and Anna Collin, with Mathieu K. Abonnenc, Goldin & Senneby, Laura Horelli, Melanie Jackson, Anja Kirschner and David Panos, Paul McCarthy, Uriel Orlow, Christodoulos Panayiotou, João Pedro Vale, Gasworks, Londen, UK
De lucht is tastbaarder dan mijn gedachten. curated by Annemie van Laethem, Rekem, Belgium
Art Brussels, Maes & Matthys, Brussel, Belgium
Groupshow, Maes & Matthys, Antwerp, Belgium
Guestroom HISK. duo with Sara Claes, curated by Roel Arkenstein, Het Domein, Sittard, The Netherlands
One litle indian, and than there where none. Curated by Marco Stamenkovic, La Générale en Manufacture, Paris, France
2009
EMERGENCY4. Aspex. Portsmouth UK
Verzamelde verhalen. Poetry summer in Watou, Belgium
Open Studio’s HISK, Ghent, Belgium
2008
Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
2007
Billytown, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
Filmhuis, The Hague, The Netherlands
Gambatte! Gallery King Kong, The Hague, The Netherlands
2005
Regentenkamer, The Hague, The Netherlands
Gallery de Fietsenstalling, The Hague, The Netherlands
Jong talent. Gallery WIT, Wageningen, The Netherlands
2004
Krachtstroom expositie 1. Scheveningen, The Netherlands
Depart. Theater aan het Spui, The Hague, The Netherlands
Graduation show, KABK, The Hague, The Netherlands
2003
Start! in cooperation with Lataste Schouten GEM, The Hague, The Netherlands
Commissions and lectures (selection)
2016
Mastertalk, Museum de Pont, Tilburg, The Netherlands
2015
Permanent sculpture, city center, The Hague, The Netherlands
Lecture, Museum M, Leuven, Belgium
2014
Portrait of king Willem-Alexander, The Netherlands
2012
Over zwemmen in meren en stromen, lecture HKU Utrecht, The Netherlands
Monument for the cleared graves, permanent installation, Oosterbegraafplaats, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Permanent installation, Main building LSG- Rentray, Zutphen, The Netherlands
2011
Lecture KABK, The Hague, The Netherlands
2010
Lecture, Aspex, Portsmouth, UK
Lecture, HISK, Ghent, Belgium
2009
Wallpainting Scheveningen, The Netherlands
Collections
Schunck, Heerlen, The Netherlands
Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, The Netherlands
Drents Museum, Assen, The Netherlands
Bibliography
Publications
Slow Down Love
with texts by John C. Welchman & Laurie Cluitmans
Design by Inge Ketelers
nai010 publishers, 2016
2017
Schaamte als kompas
author(s): Anna van Leeuwen
newspaper/magazine: de Volkskrant
Schoonheid die vooral niet perfect is
author(s): Henny de Lange
newspaper/magazine: Trouw de Verdieping
10 jaar De Volkskrant Beeldende Kunst Prijs
author(s): Antonie den Ridder
newspaper/magazine: Beeldenmagazine
2016
Femmy Otten: Slow Down Love
newspaper/magazine: nai010 magazine
Met een omweg tot de kern. Interview met Femmy Otten
newspaper/magazine: See All This
Femmy Otten - Days Undressed
author(s): Arno Kramer
newspaper/magazine: Mister Motley
Raadselachtig, en steeds minder braaf
author(s): Sophia Zürcher
newspaper/magazine: Het Parool
2015
In zichzelf gekeerde wezens
author(s): Frits de Coninck
newspaper/magazine: Museumtijdschrift, no. 1
Femmy Otten
newspaper/magazine: Grazia
2014
Femmy Otten laat zien wat ze allemaal vermag
author(s): Jan Pieter Ekker
newspaper/magazine: Het Parool
Een ademstokkende derwisjdans
author(s): Lucette ter Borg
newspaper/magazine: NRC
Relief: Femmy Otten, Onaffe verhalen
author(s): Sophia Zürcher
newspaper/magazine: Kunstbeeld no. 10
2013
Douze Points!
author(s): Tine van de Weyer
newspaper/magazine: Beelden no. 2
Error one koestert de schaamte
author(s): Anne Marie Poels
newspaper/magazine: (H)Art, September/October
Scherp en Smierend, Femmy Otten wint volkskrant beeldende kunstprijs 2013
author(s): Rutger Pontzen
newspaper/magazine: de Volkskrant
Genomineerde Volkskrant Beeldende Kunstprijs
author(s): Marina de Vries
newspaper/magazine: de Volkskrant
Interview met Femmy Otten
author(s): Niels van Maanen, Metropolis M, February
ik ben haar perzische prins
author(s): Femmy Otten
newspaper/magazine: Mister Motley # January
newspaper/magazine: DH III, Stroom Den Haag
2012
Talenten die er vast wel komen
newspaper/magazine: Trouw
Paulien Oltheten and Femmy Otten
author(s): Renske Janssen
newspaper/magazine: Frieze online, October
Tegen de vergetelheid
author(s): Anne Berk
newspaper/magazine: Financieel dagblad, September
Schoonheid en destructie
author(s): Sandra Spijkerman
newspaper/magazine: Kunstbeeld, April
Een grootse liefde
author(s): Hanne Hagenaars
newspaper/magazine: Mister Motley, March
Aesthetic reflection, about the work of Femmy Otten, Christian Friedrich, Derk Thijs and Chris Brans
author(s): Wessel Stoker
Archaïsche hoofdjes
author(s): Hans den Hartog Jager
newspaper/magazine: NRC Handelsblad
2011
Afterlife
author(s): Nanda Janssen
catalogue: Museum tot zover/ SKOR
Verbeten ondertoon bij show nieuw talent
author(s): Lucette ter Borg,
newspaper/magazine: NRC Handelsblad
Anonymously yours
catalogue: Maison Gregoire, Brussel BE
catalogue: Rijksakademie open 2011
catalogue: Koninklijke prijs voor vrije schilderkunst, Royal palace, Amsterdam NL
Power and Resistance at Sea.
author(s): Mia Jankowicz and Anna Collin
catalogue: Hydrarchy project
Charlie & Sabrina, who would have believed?
catalogue: Jeu de Paume, Paris FR
2010
newspaper/magazine: DH//, Stroom, The Hague NL
Poner de relief
newspaper/magazine: Dmag, Buenos Aires, ARG
Cover Art Brussels supplement
newspaper/magazine: ART, April
Where time has lost its relevance
author(s): Gertrud Sandqvist
De geboorte van het gezicht in een uiteengevallen wereld
author(s): Hans Theys
2009
Gevleugelde poezië op balonnen
author(s): Paul den Depondt
newspaper/magazine: de Volkskrant
Terrein maken voor iets nieuws
author(s): Isabelle Baets
newspaper/magazine: ART, July
2007
Een onbezoedelde wereld
newspaper/magazine: Filmhuiskrant.
Curatorial program, Stroom invest
author(s): Huib Haye v.d Werff
2005
Oude thema’s door jong talent
author(s): Antonie den Ridder
newspaper/magazine: De Gelderlander
Lives and works in The Hague, The Netherlands
www.femmyotten.nl
Education / residencies
2013 Aterlier Holsboer, Cité des Arts, Paris, France
2010 - 2012 Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2009 - 2010 Higher Institute for Fine Art HISK, Ghent, Belgium
1999 - 2004 BA fine art, Royal Academy of Arts, The Hague, The Netherlands
1998 - 1999 Vooropleiding Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Solo exhibitions
2018
Schunck, Heerlen
2017
Drents Museum, Assen, The Netherlands
One Year in Ten, Ketelfactory, Schiedam, The Netherlands
2016
Days Undressed, Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2014
And life is over there, Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2012
If you were coming in the fall, Galerie Fons Welters, Playstation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Yellow Minutes, where time has lost its relevance, P///AKT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2010
The seven joys of Mary, Maes & Matthys, Antwerp, Belgium
Group exhibitions
2018
Hollandse Nieuwe, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, Schiedam, the Netherlands
Nothing is Permanent, Manifesta In House Exhibition, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (upcoming)
Project Muren, Geraardsbergen, Belgium (upcoming)
Who Are We Again?, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
New Arrivals II, Schunck*, Heerlen (icw Stedelijk Museum Schiedam), The Netherlands
Some Things Hidden, Framer Framed, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2017
Die Welle, 8. Salon, hamburg, Germany
Transcruptie, Black Swan Gallery, Brugge, Belgium
Between Earth and Heaven II, Acerta, Brugge, Belgium
2016
10 jaar de Volkskrant Beeldende Kunst Prijs, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, The Netherlands (forthcoming)
Preview, Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Atlantis na Plato, Croxhapox, Ghent, Belgium
Ritual and The Sacred, Route du Nord, ZoHo, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2015
Minor Heroisms, Galeri Zilberman, Istanbul, Turkey
Meditations on a hobby horse, CIAP, Hasselt, Belgium
2015
Minor Heroisms, Galeri Zilberman, Istanbul, Turkey
The restless gods, Predikherenkerk and Museum M, Leuven, Belgium
Meditations on a hobby horse, CIAP, Hasselt, Belgium
2014
The restless gods, Predikherenkerk and Museum M, Leuven, Belgium
Westenwind, Galerie Martin Kudlek, Cologne, Germany
Presentation state portraits by Rineke Dijkstra, Femmy Otten and
Iris van Dongen, Paleis het Loo, The Netherlands
Een nieuwe koning, een nieuw portret, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Stille Kracht, De Warande, Turnhout, Belgium
2013
This is the school and the school is many thinks, KABK, The Hague, The Netherlands
ERROR #21: Shame! (Hide and Show), A project by ERROR ONE in collaboration with Pianofabriek Sint-Gillis, Brussels
Volkskrant Beeldende Kunst Prijs, Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, The Netherlands
2012
Rijksakademie open studio’s, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Koninklijke Prijs voor Vrije Schilderkunst. Royal Palace, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Figuurlijk. Museum Hilversum, Hilversum, The Netherlands
Return on Invest. Stroom, The Hague, The Netherlands
2011
Rijksakademie open studio’s, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Afterlife, Museum Tot Zover, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Koninklijke prijs voor vrije schilderkunst, Royal palace, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Wat zijn mij wolken nog en wegen, Curated by Hanne Hagenaars en Gijs Asman, Kunstvereninging, Diepenheim, The Netherlands
Zomeropstelling, Groupshow, Maurits van der Laar, the Hague, The Netherlands
2010
Thank you for tomorrow. curated by Jan Debbout, De zwarte zaal, Ghent, Belgium
Hydrarchy: Power and Resistance at Sea. curated by Mia Jankowicz and Anna Collin, with Mathieu K. Abonnenc, Goldin & Senneby, Laura Horelli, Melanie Jackson, Anja Kirschner and David Panos, Paul McCarthy, Uriel Orlow, Christodoulos Panayiotou, João Pedro Vale, Gasworks, Londen, UK
De lucht is tastbaarder dan mijn gedachten. curated by Annemie van Laethem, Rekem, Belgium
Art Brussels, Maes & Matthys, Brussel, Belgium
Groupshow, Maes & Matthys, Antwerp, Belgium
Guestroom HISK. duo with Sara Claes, curated by Roel Arkenstein, Het Domein, Sittard, The Netherlands
One litle indian, and than there where none. Curated by Marco Stamenkovic, La Générale en Manufacture, Paris, France
2009
EMERGENCY4. Aspex. Portsmouth UK
Verzamelde verhalen. Poetry summer in Watou, Belgium
Open Studio’s HISK, Ghent, Belgium
2008
Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
2007
Billytown, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
Filmhuis, The Hague, The Netherlands
Gambatte! Gallery King Kong, The Hague, The Netherlands
2005
Regentenkamer, The Hague, The Netherlands
Gallery de Fietsenstalling, The Hague, The Netherlands
Jong talent. Gallery WIT, Wageningen, The Netherlands
2004
Krachtstroom expositie 1. Scheveningen, The Netherlands
Depart. Theater aan het Spui, The Hague, The Netherlands
Graduation show, KABK, The Hague, The Netherlands
2003
Start! in cooperation with Lataste Schouten GEM, The Hague, The Netherlands
Commissions and lectures (selection)
2016
Mastertalk, Museum de Pont, Tilburg, The Netherlands
2015
Permanent sculpture, city center, The Hague, The Netherlands
Lecture, Museum M, Leuven, Belgium
2014
Portrait of king Willem-Alexander, The Netherlands
2012
Over zwemmen in meren en stromen, lecture HKU Utrecht, The Netherlands
Monument for the cleared graves, permanent installation, Oosterbegraafplaats, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Permanent installation, Main building LSG- Rentray, Zutphen, The Netherlands
2011
Lecture KABK, The Hague, The Netherlands
2010
Lecture, Aspex, Portsmouth, UK
Lecture, HISK, Ghent, Belgium
2009
Wallpainting Scheveningen, The Netherlands
Collections
Schunck, Heerlen, The Netherlands
Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, The Netherlands
Drents Museum, Assen, The Netherlands
Bibliography
Publications
Slow Down Love
with texts by John C. Welchman & Laurie Cluitmans
Design by Inge Ketelers
nai010 publishers, 2016
2017
Schaamte als kompas
author(s): Anna van Leeuwen
newspaper/magazine: de Volkskrant
Schoonheid die vooral niet perfect is
author(s): Henny de Lange
newspaper/magazine: Trouw de Verdieping
10 jaar De Volkskrant Beeldende Kunst Prijs
author(s): Antonie den Ridder
newspaper/magazine: Beeldenmagazine
2016
Femmy Otten: Slow Down Love
newspaper/magazine: nai010 magazine
Met een omweg tot de kern. Interview met Femmy Otten
newspaper/magazine: See All This
Femmy Otten - Days Undressed
author(s): Arno Kramer
newspaper/magazine: Mister Motley
Raadselachtig, en steeds minder braaf
author(s): Sophia Zürcher
newspaper/magazine: Het Parool
2015
In zichzelf gekeerde wezens
author(s): Frits de Coninck
newspaper/magazine: Museumtijdschrift, no. 1
Femmy Otten
newspaper/magazine: Grazia
2014
Femmy Otten laat zien wat ze allemaal vermag
author(s): Jan Pieter Ekker
newspaper/magazine: Het Parool
Een ademstokkende derwisjdans
author(s): Lucette ter Borg
newspaper/magazine: NRC
Relief: Femmy Otten, Onaffe verhalen
author(s): Sophia Zürcher
newspaper/magazine: Kunstbeeld no. 10
2013
Douze Points!
author(s): Tine van de Weyer
newspaper/magazine: Beelden no. 2
Error one koestert de schaamte
author(s): Anne Marie Poels
newspaper/magazine: (H)Art, September/October
Scherp en Smierend, Femmy Otten wint volkskrant beeldende kunstprijs 2013
author(s): Rutger Pontzen
newspaper/magazine: de Volkskrant
Genomineerde Volkskrant Beeldende Kunstprijs
author(s): Marina de Vries
newspaper/magazine: de Volkskrant
Interview met Femmy Otten
author(s): Niels van Maanen, Metropolis M, February
ik ben haar perzische prins
author(s): Femmy Otten
newspaper/magazine: Mister Motley # January
newspaper/magazine: DH III, Stroom Den Haag
2012
Talenten die er vast wel komen
newspaper/magazine: Trouw
Paulien Oltheten and Femmy Otten
author(s): Renske Janssen
newspaper/magazine: Frieze online, October
Tegen de vergetelheid
author(s): Anne Berk
newspaper/magazine: Financieel dagblad, September
Schoonheid en destructie
author(s): Sandra Spijkerman
newspaper/magazine: Kunstbeeld, April
Een grootse liefde
author(s): Hanne Hagenaars
newspaper/magazine: Mister Motley, March
Aesthetic reflection, about the work of Femmy Otten, Christian Friedrich, Derk Thijs and Chris Brans
author(s): Wessel Stoker
Archaïsche hoofdjes
author(s): Hans den Hartog Jager
newspaper/magazine: NRC Handelsblad
2011
Afterlife
author(s): Nanda Janssen
catalogue: Museum tot zover/ SKOR
Verbeten ondertoon bij show nieuw talent
author(s): Lucette ter Borg,
newspaper/magazine: NRC Handelsblad
Anonymously yours
catalogue: Maison Gregoire, Brussel BE
catalogue: Rijksakademie open 2011
catalogue: Koninklijke prijs voor vrije schilderkunst, Royal palace, Amsterdam NL
Power and Resistance at Sea.
author(s): Mia Jankowicz and Anna Collin
catalogue: Hydrarchy project
Charlie & Sabrina, who would have believed?
catalogue: Jeu de Paume, Paris FR
2010
newspaper/magazine: DH//, Stroom, The Hague NL
Poner de relief
newspaper/magazine: Dmag, Buenos Aires, ARG
Cover Art Brussels supplement
newspaper/magazine: ART, April
Where time has lost its relevance
author(s): Gertrud Sandqvist
De geboorte van het gezicht in een uiteengevallen wereld
author(s): Hans Theys
2009
Gevleugelde poezië op balonnen
author(s): Paul den Depondt
newspaper/magazine: de Volkskrant
Terrein maken voor iets nieuws
author(s): Isabelle Baets
newspaper/magazine: ART, July
2007
Een onbezoedelde wereld
newspaper/magazine: Filmhuiskrant.
Curatorial program, Stroom invest
author(s): Huib Haye v.d Werff
2005
Oude thema’s door jong talent
author(s): Antonie den Ridder
newspaper/magazine: De Gelderlander
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