Helen Verhoeven made her best-known work in commission, it's called Hoge Raad (Supreme Court, 2015). Verhoeven made it for the new home of the Supreme Court in The Hague. Verhoeven had to hire a larger studio and a cherry picker and worked on it for no less than 2.5 years.
Hoge Raad measures four by six and a half metres. It was not only because of its size that it was not an easy task. Expectations were high, because Verhoeven was asked to produce nothing short of a new Rembrandt. It became a group portrait in which the upper part tells the history of justice and injustice in the Netherlands and the lower part shows the diversity of the Dutch people, with the councillors of the Supreme Court in between as mediators.
A typical feature of Verhoeven's work is that she thoroughly explores her subject in advance.
For earlier work, Verhoeven drew on very diverse sources, such as clinical studies, hagiographies, historical archives and art history. She knew virtually nothing about the Dutch legal system, partly because at the age of twelve she moved to the US, where her father, Paul Verhoeven, began directing films. That's why she was updated by the president of the Supreme Court and the attorney general.
The fact that the Supreme Court gave the assignment for a group portrait to Verhoeven, is not very surprising. Although she hadn’t made large group portraits before, Verhoeven's work is figurative. Her canvases are often populated by exuberantly dressed people. She also made self-portraits, portrayed the great masters of art history, and mothers with their children. Verhoeven's work is colourful and looks like a patchwork of patterns, structures and fabrics. It seems as if Verhoeven cuts and pastes with paint, as if she makes collages where planes, spaces and people come together.
Hoge Raad measures four by six and a half metres. It was not only because of its size that it was not an easy task. Expectations were high, because Verhoeven was asked to produce nothing short of a new Rembrandt. It became a group portrait in which the upper part tells the history of justice and injustice in the Netherlands and the lower part shows the diversity of the Dutch people, with the councillors of the Supreme Court in between as mediators.
A typical feature of Verhoeven's work is that she thoroughly explores her subject in advance.
For earlier work, Verhoeven drew on very diverse sources, such as clinical studies, hagiographies, historical archives and art history. She knew virtually nothing about the Dutch legal system, partly because at the age of twelve she moved to the US, where her father, Paul Verhoeven, began directing films. That's why she was updated by the president of the Supreme Court and the attorney general.
The fact that the Supreme Court gave the assignment for a group portrait to Verhoeven, is not very surprising. Although she hadn’t made large group portraits before, Verhoeven's work is figurative. Her canvases are often populated by exuberantly dressed people. She also made self-portraits, portrayed the great masters of art history, and mothers with their children. Verhoeven's work is colourful and looks like a patchwork of patterns, structures and fabrics. It seems as if Verhoeven cuts and pastes with paint, as if she makes collages where planes, spaces and people come together.
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Helen Verhoeven (Leiden, 1974) lives and works in Berlin. Verhoeven studied at the San Francisco Art Institute (1992-1996), the New York Academy of Art (1998-2001) and at the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam (2005-2006). Verhoeven's work is included in the collections of the Bonnefantenmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Saatchi Gallery.
In 2008 Verhoeven won the Royal Award for Modern Painting, followed by the Wolvecamp Prize in 2010, and the 2018 ABN Amro Art Prize. At the beginning of 2018, Verhoeven had a retrospective exhibition at the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht. That year her installation Church I, featuring various techniques such as stained glass, mosaics, painting and sculpture, was on display at Art Basel. In 2019, Verhoeven exhibited at the Hermitage Amsterdam.
In 2008 Verhoeven won the Royal Award for Modern Painting, followed by the Wolvecamp Prize in 2010, and the 2018 ABN Amro Art Prize. At the beginning of 2018, Verhoeven had a retrospective exhibition at the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht. That year her installation Church I, featuring various techniques such as stained glass, mosaics, painting and sculpture, was on display at Art Basel. In 2019, Verhoeven exhibited at the Hermitage Amsterdam.
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Education
2005-2006 Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, NL
1998-2001 New York Academy of Art, New York, NY, US
1992-1996 San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA, US
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2018 Oh God, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, NL
2018 Church 1, Art Basel Statements, Stigter Van Doesburg, Basel, CH
2016 Libby Libby Libby, Galerie Stigter van Doesburg, Amsterdam, NL
2013 The Waiting, Galerie Parisa Kind, Frankfurt, DE
2013 Mother, Stigter van Doesburg, Amsterdam, NL
2012 Stage Disasters, Wallspace, New York, NY, US
2012 Part Pretty, SCHUNCK, Heerlen, NL
2010 The Thingly Character, Galerie Diana Stigter, Amsterdam, NL
2010 Art Show I - Helen Verhoeven, KLEMM’S Project Room, Berlin, DE
2008 Event Two, Mesler & Hug, Los Angeles, CA, US
2008 Event One, Wallspace, New York, NY, US
2007 The Beautiful Many, Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, NL
2006 Saints, Wallspace, New York, NY, US
2004 Nightmares, Wallspace, New York, NY, US
Selected Group Exhibitions
2018 De Meest Eigentijdse, Dordrechts Museum, Dordrecht, NL
2018 Neue Heimat, Willem Twee Kunstruimte, Den Bosch, NL & Reinbeckhallen, Berlin, DE
2017 The Painted Bird, Marres, Maastricht, NL
2017 Vaste Collectie: Beeldende Kunst 1850-heden, Utrecht Centraal Museum, NL
2017 Paint it Soft, SCHUNCK, Heerlen, NL
2017 Vele gezichten van het LUMC, LUMC, Leiden, NL
2016 It’s not your paintings I like, It’s your painting, Stigter van Doesburg, Amsterdam, NL
2016 10e Wolvecampprijs, Heartpool, Hengelo, NL
2016 Geen Woorden maar Beelden, LUMC, Leiden, NL
2015 Aanwinten 2014-2015, LUMC, Leiden, NL
2015 Apophänie, Nederlansche Bank, Amsterdam, NL
2014 Beating around the Bush, Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht, NL
2014 Disturbing Innocence, The FLAG Art Foundation, New York, US
2014 De Grote Kunstshow, Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam, NL
2014 How Soon is Now?, Manifesta Foundation, Amsterdam, NL
2013 Body Language, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2013 More than meets the Eye, Raadhuis, Heerlen, NL
2013 Ten Years, Wallspace, New York, US
2013 Far from the Madding Crowd, Bonnefanten Hedge House Foundation, Wijlre, NL
2013 The Legend of the Shelves, AUTOCENTER, Berlin, DE
2012 Der Gemalte Raum / Painted Space, Schömer Hause, Klosterneuburg, AU
2012 Through an Open Window, Institut Néerlandais, Paris, FR
2012 Made in Germany Zwei, Sprengel Museum, Kestnergesellschaft, Kunstverein, Hannover, Hannover DE
2012 It Might As Well Rain Until September, Galerie Diana Stigter, Amsterdam, NL
2012 Voor Eeuwing de Jouwe, Stadsgalerie, Heerlen, NL
2012 Objects of Dismissal, AUTOCENTER, Berlin, DE
2012 From a Painter’s Perspective, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL
2011 Bellevue, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, NL
2011 Imagine Being There, Rabobank, Utrecht, NL
2011 Een i treurend om een punt, SCHUNCK*, Heerlen, NL
2011 What’s Up - Jonge Nederlandse Schilderkunst, Dordrechts Museum, Dordrecht, NL
2011 Sie irren sich – curated by Jana Müller, Galerie Maurer, Frankfurt, DE
2011 Collection Imaginaire, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL
2010 Helen Verhoeven & Alon Levin, Tommy Hilfiger / Lees Museum, Amsterdam, NL
2010 In.flec.tion - Hudson Valley Center of Contemporary Art, New York, US
2010 Tentoonstelling RC de Ruimte - curated by Ben and Hannie Loerakker - IJmuiden, NL
2010 Wolvecampprijs, Creatieve Fabriek, Hengelo, NL
2010 Dirty Light - The Forgotton Bar – curated by Bettina Sellmann, Berlin, DE
2010 Girl Overkill 2 – curated by Iris van Dongen, Kunstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, DE
2009 Play- Curated by Nikola Cernetic, Monica De Cardena, Milan, IT
2009 Girl Overkill – curated by Iris van Dongen, The Forgotten Bar, Berlin, DE
2009 Pruesspress – Ritter/Zamer, London, UK
2009 Retour - Huize Frankendael, Amsterdam, NL
2009 Nieuwe Schilders , LUMC, Leiden, NL
2009 Aanwinsten, LUMC 2007-2009, LUMC, Leiden, NL
2008 Koninklijke Prijs voor Vrije Schilderkunst 2008, GEM Museum, Den Haag, NL
2008 Tints of Majesty, Lizabeth Oliveria, Los Angeles, CA, US
2008 Pruesspress, Rental Gallery, New York, NY, US
2007 Some Kind of Portrait, Marc Selwyn Fine Art, Los Angeles, US
2007 Hedendaagse Figuratie #2, Kunstcentrum, Hengelo, NL
2007 About Contemporary Figuration, Safe Art, Dalfsen, NL
2007 Recent Acquisitions - Young Painting' Sammlung Essl Museum, Vienna, AU
2006 The Presence of Absence—curated by Rachel Howe, Gallery w52, NY, US
2006 In Order of Appearance, Living Arts Museum, Reykjavik, IC
2006 Bold Moves—curated by Simon Watson/Scenic, 382 West Broadway, NY, US
2006 Rijksakademie at Parts, Parts, Xiamen City, CN
2006 Open Ateliers—curated by Nacisse Tordoir, Rijksakademie, Amsterdam, NL
2005 Hot Spots 05, Sammlung Essl Museum, Vienna, AU
2005 Seven Young Painters, Bowie Van Valen, Amsterdam, NL
2005 ArtReview 25: Emerging US Artists, Phillips de Pury & Co, New York, NY, US
2005 The Exploding Plastic Inevitable, Bergdorf Goodman, New York, US
2005 Open Ateliers—curated by Nacisse Tordoir, Rijkakademie, Amsterdam, NL
2004 Show and Tell, Zimmer Museum, Los Angeles, CA, US
2003 The Holiday Shopping Show II—curated by Robin Kahn, Wallspace, NY, US
2003 Photography As Model, Wallspace, New York, NY, US
2003 Space Invators, Fishtank, Brooklyn, NY, US
1997 Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, CA, US
1996 Jonathan Schipper / Helen Verhoeven, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA, US
1996 Betrothed, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Raphael, CA, US
1995 Lateral, Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA, US
1995 Posture, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA, US
Grants, Awards and Commissions
2017 Mondriaan Fund - Werkbijdrage Bewezen Talent plus Opdrachtgever: Bonnefantenmuseum
2017 Mario Testino collaboration, Vogue, NL
2014 De Hoge Raad der Nederlanden / The Supreme Court of the Netherlands, NL
2013 Portrait of King Willem Alexander, NRC, NL
2011 Basisstipendium, BKVB / Mondriaan Fund, Amsterdam, NL
2010 Wolvecamp Prize, Hengelo, NL
2010 Stroom PRO, Den Haag, NL
2010 BKVB / The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Amsterdam, NL
2008 Netherlands Royal Painting Prize (Koninklijke Prijs voor de Schilderkunst), NL
2007 BKVB / The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Amsterdam, NL
2006 Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds - "Van Eck-Vollgraff Fonds", NL
2006 Stichting Dr. Hendrik Muller's Vaderlandsch Fonds, Den Haag, NL
2006 ARCADIS, NL
2002 Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University / NYAA Travel Grant, NY, US
2001 John Alexander Research Fellowship / NYAA, US
2005-2006 Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, NL
1998-2001 New York Academy of Art, New York, NY, US
1992-1996 San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA, US
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2018 Oh God, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, NL
2018 Church 1, Art Basel Statements, Stigter Van Doesburg, Basel, CH
2016 Libby Libby Libby, Galerie Stigter van Doesburg, Amsterdam, NL
2013 The Waiting, Galerie Parisa Kind, Frankfurt, DE
2013 Mother, Stigter van Doesburg, Amsterdam, NL
2012 Stage Disasters, Wallspace, New York, NY, US
2012 Part Pretty, SCHUNCK, Heerlen, NL
2010 The Thingly Character, Galerie Diana Stigter, Amsterdam, NL
2010 Art Show I - Helen Verhoeven, KLEMM’S Project Room, Berlin, DE
2008 Event Two, Mesler & Hug, Los Angeles, CA, US
2008 Event One, Wallspace, New York, NY, US
2007 The Beautiful Many, Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, NL
2006 Saints, Wallspace, New York, NY, US
2004 Nightmares, Wallspace, New York, NY, US
Selected Group Exhibitions
2018 De Meest Eigentijdse, Dordrechts Museum, Dordrecht, NL
2018 Neue Heimat, Willem Twee Kunstruimte, Den Bosch, NL & Reinbeckhallen, Berlin, DE
2017 The Painted Bird, Marres, Maastricht, NL
2017 Vaste Collectie: Beeldende Kunst 1850-heden, Utrecht Centraal Museum, NL
2017 Paint it Soft, SCHUNCK, Heerlen, NL
2017 Vele gezichten van het LUMC, LUMC, Leiden, NL
2016 It’s not your paintings I like, It’s your painting, Stigter van Doesburg, Amsterdam, NL
2016 10e Wolvecampprijs, Heartpool, Hengelo, NL
2016 Geen Woorden maar Beelden, LUMC, Leiden, NL
2015 Aanwinten 2014-2015, LUMC, Leiden, NL
2015 Apophänie, Nederlansche Bank, Amsterdam, NL
2014 Beating around the Bush, Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht, NL
2014 Disturbing Innocence, The FLAG Art Foundation, New York, US
2014 De Grote Kunstshow, Stadsschouwburg, Amsterdam, NL
2014 How Soon is Now?, Manifesta Foundation, Amsterdam, NL
2013 Body Language, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
2013 More than meets the Eye, Raadhuis, Heerlen, NL
2013 Ten Years, Wallspace, New York, US
2013 Far from the Madding Crowd, Bonnefanten Hedge House Foundation, Wijlre, NL
2013 The Legend of the Shelves, AUTOCENTER, Berlin, DE
2012 Der Gemalte Raum / Painted Space, Schömer Hause, Klosterneuburg, AU
2012 Through an Open Window, Institut Néerlandais, Paris, FR
2012 Made in Germany Zwei, Sprengel Museum, Kestnergesellschaft, Kunstverein, Hannover, Hannover DE
2012 It Might As Well Rain Until September, Galerie Diana Stigter, Amsterdam, NL
2012 Voor Eeuwing de Jouwe, Stadsgalerie, Heerlen, NL
2012 Objects of Dismissal, AUTOCENTER, Berlin, DE
2012 From a Painter’s Perspective, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL
2011 Bellevue, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, NL
2011 Imagine Being There, Rabobank, Utrecht, NL
2011 Een i treurend om een punt, SCHUNCK*, Heerlen, NL
2011 What’s Up - Jonge Nederlandse Schilderkunst, Dordrechts Museum, Dordrecht, NL
2011 Sie irren sich – curated by Jana Müller, Galerie Maurer, Frankfurt, DE
2011 Collection Imaginaire, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, NL
2010 Helen Verhoeven & Alon Levin, Tommy Hilfiger / Lees Museum, Amsterdam, NL
2010 In.flec.tion - Hudson Valley Center of Contemporary Art, New York, US
2010 Tentoonstelling RC de Ruimte - curated by Ben and Hannie Loerakker - IJmuiden, NL
2010 Wolvecampprijs, Creatieve Fabriek, Hengelo, NL
2010 Dirty Light - The Forgotton Bar – curated by Bettina Sellmann, Berlin, DE
2010 Girl Overkill 2 – curated by Iris van Dongen, Kunstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, DE
2009 Play- Curated by Nikola Cernetic, Monica De Cardena, Milan, IT
2009 Girl Overkill – curated by Iris van Dongen, The Forgotten Bar, Berlin, DE
2009 Pruesspress – Ritter/Zamer, London, UK
2009 Retour - Huize Frankendael, Amsterdam, NL
2009 Nieuwe Schilders , LUMC, Leiden, NL
2009 Aanwinsten, LUMC 2007-2009, LUMC, Leiden, NL
2008 Koninklijke Prijs voor Vrije Schilderkunst 2008, GEM Museum, Den Haag, NL
2008 Tints of Majesty, Lizabeth Oliveria, Los Angeles, CA, US
2008 Pruesspress, Rental Gallery, New York, NY, US
2007 Some Kind of Portrait, Marc Selwyn Fine Art, Los Angeles, US
2007 Hedendaagse Figuratie #2, Kunstcentrum, Hengelo, NL
2007 About Contemporary Figuration, Safe Art, Dalfsen, NL
2007 Recent Acquisitions - Young Painting' Sammlung Essl Museum, Vienna, AU
2006 The Presence of Absence—curated by Rachel Howe, Gallery w52, NY, US
2006 In Order of Appearance, Living Arts Museum, Reykjavik, IC
2006 Bold Moves—curated by Simon Watson/Scenic, 382 West Broadway, NY, US
2006 Rijksakademie at Parts, Parts, Xiamen City, CN
2006 Open Ateliers—curated by Nacisse Tordoir, Rijksakademie, Amsterdam, NL
2005 Hot Spots 05, Sammlung Essl Museum, Vienna, AU
2005 Seven Young Painters, Bowie Van Valen, Amsterdam, NL
2005 ArtReview 25: Emerging US Artists, Phillips de Pury & Co, New York, NY, US
2005 The Exploding Plastic Inevitable, Bergdorf Goodman, New York, US
2005 Open Ateliers—curated by Nacisse Tordoir, Rijkakademie, Amsterdam, NL
2004 Show and Tell, Zimmer Museum, Los Angeles, CA, US
2003 The Holiday Shopping Show II—curated by Robin Kahn, Wallspace, NY, US
2003 Photography As Model, Wallspace, New York, NY, US
2003 Space Invators, Fishtank, Brooklyn, NY, US
1997 Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, CA, US
1996 Jonathan Schipper / Helen Verhoeven, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA, US
1996 Betrothed, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Raphael, CA, US
1995 Lateral, Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA, US
1995 Posture, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, CA, US
Grants, Awards and Commissions
2017 Mondriaan Fund - Werkbijdrage Bewezen Talent plus Opdrachtgever: Bonnefantenmuseum
2017 Mario Testino collaboration, Vogue, NL
2014 De Hoge Raad der Nederlanden / The Supreme Court of the Netherlands, NL
2013 Portrait of King Willem Alexander, NRC, NL
2011 Basisstipendium, BKVB / Mondriaan Fund, Amsterdam, NL
2010 Wolvecamp Prize, Hengelo, NL
2010 Stroom PRO, Den Haag, NL
2010 BKVB / The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Amsterdam, NL
2008 Netherlands Royal Painting Prize (Koninklijke Prijs voor de Schilderkunst), NL
2007 BKVB / The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Amsterdam, NL
2006 Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds - "Van Eck-Vollgraff Fonds", NL
2006 Stichting Dr. Hendrik Muller's Vaderlandsch Fonds, Den Haag, NL
2006 ARCADIS, NL
2002 Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University / NYAA Travel Grant, NY, US
2001 John Alexander Research Fellowship / NYAA, US
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