Carel Visser 1928 - 2015
Represented by:
BorzoGallery
Carel Visser is one of the Netherlands' principal post war sculptors. An unconventional sculptor, standing on the shoulders of his great predecessors Brancusi and Giacometti, Carel Visser was always engaged with forms and materials, all materials. He worked with steel and glass, eggs and feathers, wool and leather, up to and including car tyres.
In the nineteen-fifties and sixties Visser built on the principles of Mondrian's Neoplasticism using robust iron sculptures in geometric shapes. Carel Visser's abstract visual language was a novelty, especially in the post-war Netherlands, where sculpture was still dominated by the figuration of the conservative Rijksacademie.
Carel Visser's oeuvre spans an entire lifetime: the early years with mostly studies in a more or less figurative visual language, the nineteen-fifties and sixties with mainly abstract works of geometric shapes in iron, stacks of sheet metal and beams, studies of angles and reflections and of experimental wall sculptures in aluminium. The nineteen-seventies and eighties are characterized by a completely free visual language and in an extraordinarily varied use of materials, whereby Visser embraced every possible substance.
He remained active and creative well into old age, although he did increasingly swap the heavy iron for the equally expressive and three-dimensional collage in lighter-weight cardboard.
As the son of a civil engineer Carel Visser was familiar with architectural materials and techniques from an early age. He first studied architecture at the Technical University of Delft, but his interest in the subject soon waned. Nor did he complete an art teacher training at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. With his younger brother Geertjan he travelled widely to France, Spain and Italy. These trips had a great influence on the evolution of his interest from architecture to sculpture. The acclaimed and influential exhibitions at the Stedelijk Museum under Sandberg are significant and prove formative for the young Visser. It was certainly true of the exhibition 13 Beeldhouwers uit Parijs (13 sculptors from Paris) in 1948, where he was first introduced to the work of Brancusi, Arp, Gonzalez and Giacometti, among others. With nature and figuration as a starting point Visser slowly but surely develops into a sculptor for whom abstraction and architecture will dominate his visual language. He is one of those modern sculptors for whom figuration is not the automatic outcome of the art of sculpture.
In the Netherlands his work was mainly represented by Nouvelles Images in The Hague and Art & Project in Amsterdam; chief international representation has been by Konrad Fischer in Düsseldorf and Galerie Durand-Dessert in Paris.
In the nineteen-fifties and sixties Visser built on the principles of Mondrian's Neoplasticism using robust iron sculptures in geometric shapes. Carel Visser's abstract visual language was a novelty, especially in the post-war Netherlands, where sculpture was still dominated by the figuration of the conservative Rijksacademie.
Carel Visser's oeuvre spans an entire lifetime: the early years with mostly studies in a more or less figurative visual language, the nineteen-fifties and sixties with mainly abstract works of geometric shapes in iron, stacks of sheet metal and beams, studies of angles and reflections and of experimental wall sculptures in aluminium. The nineteen-seventies and eighties are characterized by a completely free visual language and in an extraordinarily varied use of materials, whereby Visser embraced every possible substance.
He remained active and creative well into old age, although he did increasingly swap the heavy iron for the equally expressive and three-dimensional collage in lighter-weight cardboard.
As the son of a civil engineer Carel Visser was familiar with architectural materials and techniques from an early age. He first studied architecture at the Technical University of Delft, but his interest in the subject soon waned. Nor did he complete an art teacher training at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. With his younger brother Geertjan he travelled widely to France, Spain and Italy. These trips had a great influence on the evolution of his interest from architecture to sculpture. The acclaimed and influential exhibitions at the Stedelijk Museum under Sandberg are significant and prove formative for the young Visser. It was certainly true of the exhibition 13 Beeldhouwers uit Parijs (13 sculptors from Paris) in 1948, where he was first introduced to the work of Brancusi, Arp, Gonzalez and Giacometti, among others. With nature and figuration as a starting point Visser slowly but surely develops into a sculptor for whom abstraction and architecture will dominate his visual language. He is one of those modern sculptors for whom figuration is not the automatic outcome of the art of sculpture.
In the Netherlands his work was mainly represented by Nouvelles Images in The Hague and Art & Project in Amsterdam; chief international representation has been by Konrad Fischer in Düsseldorf and Galerie Durand-Dessert in Paris.
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Carel Visser on Hollandse Meesters
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In museum collection:
Kröller-Müller Museum
Van Abbemuseum
Stedelijk Museum 's-Hertogenbosch
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Museum Boijmans van Beuningen
Fries Museum
Museum Beelden aan Zee
Rijksmuseum
CODA
Museum de Lakenhal
Rijksmuseum Twenthe
Teylers Museum
Tate Modern, London
Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag
Dordrechts Museum, Dordrecht
MoMA, Museum of Modern Art, New York
Centraal Museum Utrecht
Market position
Carel Visser is considered one of the most important post-war sculptors in the Netherlands. His work is represented in all major museum collections in the Netherlands and in many foreign museum collections.
Prices | Awards
1968 David E. Bright Prize, Venice Biennial
1971 Prize 8th International Graphic Biënnale, Tokio
1972 Dutch State Prize for visual arts and architecture
1986 David Röell Prize
1992 Amsterdam Art Prize
1992 Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize
1994 J.C. van Lanschot Prize
2004 Wilhelminaring
Prices | Awards
1968 David E. Bright Prize, Venice Biennial
1971 Prize 8th International Graphic Biënnale, Tokio
1972 Dutch State Prize for visual arts and architecture
1986 David Röell Prize
1992 Amsterdam Art Prize
1992 Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize
1994 J.C. van Lanschot Prize
2004 Wilhelminaring
CV
3 May 1928 Papendrecht, The Netherlands
1948-1949 Architecture at the Technische Hogeschool, Delft
1949-1951 Royal Acadamy of Arts, The Hague
Onderscheidingen & Prijzen | Awards & Prizes
1968 David E. Bright Prize
1972 Dutch State Prize for visual arts and architecture
1971 Prize 8th International Graphic Biënnale, Tokio
1992 Amsterdam Art Prize
2004 Wilhelminaring
Solotentoonstellingen | Solo Exhibitions (selected)
2019 Genesis, Museum Beelden aan Zee, The Hague
2018 Carel Visser. Aluminium Reliefs 1965-68, BorzoGallery Amsterdam; The Mayor Gallery, London
2017 Carel Visser, Kröller Müller Museum, Otterlo
2015 Counterbalance, BorzoGallery, Amsterdam; The Mayor Gallery, London
2014 Carel Visser, BorzoGallery, Amsterdam
2010 Lijn en Vlak, BorzoGallery, Amsterdam
2008 Carel Visser, Rijkmuseum Twente, Enschede
Relief and Construction, BorzoGallery, Amsterdam
2000 Carel Viser, De Zonnehof, Amersfoort
1999 Carel Visser, Kröller Müller Museum, Otterlo
1998 Carel Visser, Galerie Tanja Rumpf, Haarlem
1994 22nd Bienal de São Paulo, Dutch Pavilion, São Paulo
Carel Visser, Haags Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
Carel Visser, Galerie Carin Delcourt van Krimpen, Rotterdam
1992 Carel Visser – de verwondering/wondering/zadziwienie, Van Reekum Museum, Apeldoorn; Muzeum Sztuki, Lódz, Poland
1991 Carel Visser, Galerie Lambert Tegenbosch, Heusden (also in 1994, 1995, 1997)
1990 Carel Visser, Sprengel Museum, Hannover
Carel Visser, Forum des Landesmuseum, Hannover
1989 Carel Visser, 10 beelden Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller, Otterlo
1988 Carel Visser, Galerie De Gryze, Tiel
Carel Visser, Centre d'árt Contemporain du Domaine de Kerguehannec Locminé
1986 Carel Visser. Werken op papier, Galerie Terzijde, Bussum
Carel Visser, beelden 1975-1985, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
1985 Carel Visser, Kasteel Wijlre, Wijlre
Carel Visser, dessins et collages, Institut Néerlandais, Paris
1984 Carel Visser, plakbeelden, Groninger Museum, Groningen
1983 Carel Visser, Galerie Plus-Kern, Brussels (also in 1984)
1982 Carel Visser, Sculptures and collages, Nigel Greenwood Gallery, London
Carel Visser, Kunstzaal 't Meyhuis, Helmond
1981 Carel Visser, 10 beelden, Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller, Otterlo
Carel Visser, Sculptures – works on paper, Galerie Richard Foncke, Gent (also in 1986, 1992)
1980 Carel Visser, Galerie Hester van Royen, London
Carel Visser, Galerie Durand-Dessert, Paris (also in 1985, 1986, 1989)
1979 Carel Visser Plastiken, Jan Schoonhoven Zeichnungen und Reliefs, Städtische Galerie, Nordhorn
Carel Visser, Beeld, Museum Fodor, Amsterdam
Carel Visser, beelden 1978-1979, Groninger Museum, Groningen
1978 Sculptor’s work by Carel Visser. Sculpture, drawings, prints and jewellery 1952-1977, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London; Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol; Third Eye Centre, Glasgow
Carel Visser, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
1977 Carel Visser, Neuere Skulpturen und Zeichnungen, Städtische Kunsthalle, Düsseldorf
Carel Visser, Konrad Fischer, Düsseldorf (also in 1979, 1985)
Carel Visser, Galleria d'Art Primo Piano, Rome
Project van Carel Visser in Dordrechts Museum, Dordrechts Museum, Dordrecht
1976 Carel Visser, Sperone Westwater Fischer Inc., New York
1975 Carel Visser, Stedelijk van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven
Carel Visser, Loeb-Galerie, Bern
1974 Raakpunten 1: Toon Verhoef/Carel Visser, Stedelijk Museum de Lakenhal, Leiden
Carel Visser, Galerie Nouvelles Images, The Hague (also in 1982, 1998)
Carel Visser, Art & Project, Amsterdam (also in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987)
1973 Carel Visser. Sculpture 1957-72, Lucy Milton Gallery, London
Carel Visser, Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
1972 Carel Visser, beelden, Paleis voor Schone Kunsten, Brussels
1971 Carel Visser, Galerie Paul Maenz, Cologne (also in 1972, 1975)
Carel Visser beeldhouwwerk, Agnietenhof, Tiel
1970 Grafiek van Carel Visser, Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Enschede
Plastieken, tekeningen en grafiek van Carel Visser, Collection d’art, Amsterdam
Carel Visser/grafiek, Galerie Fenna de Vries, Rotterdam (also in 1980, 1982, 1985)
1968 Carel Visser, XXXIV Esposizione Biennale Internazionale d’Arte Venezia, Olanda, Giardini, Venice
1967 Carel Visser. Prentenkabinet No. 16, Haags Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
Willem Husseum en Carel Visser, Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenhof, Delft
1965 Carel Visser, Galerie Espace, Amsterdam (also in 1968, 1970)
1964 Carel Visser, sculpturen. houtsneden, Rotterdamse Kunstkring, Rotterdam
1962 Carel Visser, sculpture and woodcuts, Steinberg Hall, Washington Universtity, St. Louis; Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass
1961 Carel Visser. Tentoonstelling: grafiek + IJzerplastieken, Galerie de Boog, Willemstad
3 Constructivist Sculptors, Robert Adams, Coulentianos, Carel Visser, Bertha Schaefer Gallery, New York
Carel Visser, ijzerplastieken, tekeningen, grafiek, Haags Gemeentemuseum, The Hague (also in 1967, 1973, 1994)
1960 Carel Visser, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
1959 Carel Visser, Steendrukkerij de Jong & Co, Hilversum
C. Visser, Neue Galerie Parnass-Jaährling, Wuppertal
1955 C.N. Visser ijzerplastieken, 't Venster, Rotterdam
1954 IJzerplastieken van Carel Visser, Kunsthandel Martinet, Amsterdam
1948-1949 Architecture at the Technische Hogeschool, Delft
1949-1951 Royal Acadamy of Arts, The Hague
Onderscheidingen & Prijzen | Awards & Prizes
1968 David E. Bright Prize
1972 Dutch State Prize for visual arts and architecture
1971 Prize 8th International Graphic Biënnale, Tokio
1992 Amsterdam Art Prize
2004 Wilhelminaring
Solotentoonstellingen | Solo Exhibitions (selected)
2019 Genesis, Museum Beelden aan Zee, The Hague
2018 Carel Visser. Aluminium Reliefs 1965-68, BorzoGallery Amsterdam; The Mayor Gallery, London
2017 Carel Visser, Kröller Müller Museum, Otterlo
2015 Counterbalance, BorzoGallery, Amsterdam; The Mayor Gallery, London
2014 Carel Visser, BorzoGallery, Amsterdam
2010 Lijn en Vlak, BorzoGallery, Amsterdam
2008 Carel Visser, Rijkmuseum Twente, Enschede
Relief and Construction, BorzoGallery, Amsterdam
2000 Carel Viser, De Zonnehof, Amersfoort
1999 Carel Visser, Kröller Müller Museum, Otterlo
1998 Carel Visser, Galerie Tanja Rumpf, Haarlem
1994 22nd Bienal de São Paulo, Dutch Pavilion, São Paulo
Carel Visser, Haags Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
Carel Visser, Galerie Carin Delcourt van Krimpen, Rotterdam
1992 Carel Visser – de verwondering/wondering/zadziwienie, Van Reekum Museum, Apeldoorn; Muzeum Sztuki, Lódz, Poland
1991 Carel Visser, Galerie Lambert Tegenbosch, Heusden (also in 1994, 1995, 1997)
1990 Carel Visser, Sprengel Museum, Hannover
Carel Visser, Forum des Landesmuseum, Hannover
1989 Carel Visser, 10 beelden Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller, Otterlo
1988 Carel Visser, Galerie De Gryze, Tiel
Carel Visser, Centre d'árt Contemporain du Domaine de Kerguehannec Locminé
1986 Carel Visser. Werken op papier, Galerie Terzijde, Bussum
Carel Visser, beelden 1975-1985, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
1985 Carel Visser, Kasteel Wijlre, Wijlre
Carel Visser, dessins et collages, Institut Néerlandais, Paris
1984 Carel Visser, plakbeelden, Groninger Museum, Groningen
1983 Carel Visser, Galerie Plus-Kern, Brussels (also in 1984)
1982 Carel Visser, Sculptures and collages, Nigel Greenwood Gallery, London
Carel Visser, Kunstzaal 't Meyhuis, Helmond
1981 Carel Visser, 10 beelden, Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller, Otterlo
Carel Visser, Sculptures – works on paper, Galerie Richard Foncke, Gent (also in 1986, 1992)
1980 Carel Visser, Galerie Hester van Royen, London
Carel Visser, Galerie Durand-Dessert, Paris (also in 1985, 1986, 1989)
1979 Carel Visser Plastiken, Jan Schoonhoven Zeichnungen und Reliefs, Städtische Galerie, Nordhorn
Carel Visser, Beeld, Museum Fodor, Amsterdam
Carel Visser, beelden 1978-1979, Groninger Museum, Groningen
1978 Sculptor’s work by Carel Visser. Sculpture, drawings, prints and jewellery 1952-1977, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London; Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol; Third Eye Centre, Glasgow
Carel Visser, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
1977 Carel Visser, Neuere Skulpturen und Zeichnungen, Städtische Kunsthalle, Düsseldorf
Carel Visser, Konrad Fischer, Düsseldorf (also in 1979, 1985)
Carel Visser, Galleria d'Art Primo Piano, Rome
Project van Carel Visser in Dordrechts Museum, Dordrechts Museum, Dordrecht
1976 Carel Visser, Sperone Westwater Fischer Inc., New York
1975 Carel Visser, Stedelijk van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven
Carel Visser, Loeb-Galerie, Bern
1974 Raakpunten 1: Toon Verhoef/Carel Visser, Stedelijk Museum de Lakenhal, Leiden
Carel Visser, Galerie Nouvelles Images, The Hague (also in 1982, 1998)
Carel Visser, Art & Project, Amsterdam (also in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987)
1973 Carel Visser. Sculpture 1957-72, Lucy Milton Gallery, London
Carel Visser, Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
1972 Carel Visser, beelden, Paleis voor Schone Kunsten, Brussels
1971 Carel Visser, Galerie Paul Maenz, Cologne (also in 1972, 1975)
Carel Visser beeldhouwwerk, Agnietenhof, Tiel
1970 Grafiek van Carel Visser, Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Enschede
Plastieken, tekeningen en grafiek van Carel Visser, Collection d’art, Amsterdam
Carel Visser/grafiek, Galerie Fenna de Vries, Rotterdam (also in 1980, 1982, 1985)
1968 Carel Visser, XXXIV Esposizione Biennale Internazionale d’Arte Venezia, Olanda, Giardini, Venice
1967 Carel Visser. Prentenkabinet No. 16, Haags Gemeentemuseum, The Hague
Willem Husseum en Carel Visser, Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenhof, Delft
1965 Carel Visser, Galerie Espace, Amsterdam (also in 1968, 1970)
1964 Carel Visser, sculpturen. houtsneden, Rotterdamse Kunstkring, Rotterdam
1962 Carel Visser, sculpture and woodcuts, Steinberg Hall, Washington Universtity, St. Louis; Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass
1961 Carel Visser. Tentoonstelling: grafiek + IJzerplastieken, Galerie de Boog, Willemstad
3 Constructivist Sculptors, Robert Adams, Coulentianos, Carel Visser, Bertha Schaefer Gallery, New York
Carel Visser, ijzerplastieken, tekeningen, grafiek, Haags Gemeentemuseum, The Hague (also in 1967, 1973, 1994)
1960 Carel Visser, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
1959 Carel Visser, Steendrukkerij de Jong & Co, Hilversum
C. Visser, Neue Galerie Parnass-Jaährling, Wuppertal
1955 C.N. Visser ijzerplastieken, 't Venster, Rotterdam
1954 IJzerplastieken van Carel Visser, Kunsthandel Martinet, Amsterdam
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