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Anni Mertens is a Luxembourgish artist based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
She mainly works with ceramics, found objects, steel and a healthy dose of humour.
Her intuitive and experimental approach involves constant play with shapes and colours,
as well as contrasting textures and materials. This playful method allows her to expand her collection of ceramic objects, which she
integrates into spatial installations. Mertens' installations are often site-specific, interacting with their environments.
What may initially appear as static sculptural landscapes are, in fact, dynamic compositions. These dynamics are translated into twisted forms of ceramic objects by hanging, stretching, squeezing and leaning in the space.
Transformative, gestural, and tactile, Mertens' ceramic work reflects an obsession with fluid materiality. By contrasting geometric with organic forms, industrial with natural elements, and soft with hard textures, she actively plays with illusion and perception.
Through her work, Anni Mertens offers a humorous perspective on the human attempt to understand and grasp the world, inviting viewers to question their own perceptions and the boundaries between reality and illusion.
She mainly works with ceramics, found objects, steel and a healthy dose of humour.
Her intuitive and experimental approach involves constant play with shapes and colours,
as well as contrasting textures and materials. This playful method allows her to expand her collection of ceramic objects, which she
integrates into spatial installations. Mertens' installations are often site-specific, interacting with their environments.
What may initially appear as static sculptural landscapes are, in fact, dynamic compositions. These dynamics are translated into twisted forms of ceramic objects by hanging, stretching, squeezing and leaning in the space.
Transformative, gestural, and tactile, Mertens' ceramic work reflects an obsession with fluid materiality. By contrasting geometric with organic forms, industrial with natural elements, and soft with hard textures, she actively plays with illusion and perception.
Through her work, Anni Mertens offers a humorous perspective on the human attempt to understand and grasp the world, inviting viewers to question their own perceptions and the boundaries between reality and illusion.
Oeuvres d'art
Articles
Médias
Points forts
Recommandations
Collections
Expositions
Position sur le marché
CV
Dans la collection corporative:
Ministerie van Binnenlandse zaken
Position sur le marché
Anni Mertens is a contemporary sculptor known for her refined engagement with material, form, and process. Mertens has received significant recognition, including the Mondriaan Fonds Kunstenaar Start (2024), the FOCUNA Bourse Fondation Schleich-Lentz for ceramic artists (2023), and the Prix Jeune Talent CAL (2022). She has been nominated for major awards such as the Edward Steichen Award and the Prix Robert Schuman, underlining her rising international profile. Her work is held in public and private collections, including the Dutch Government Collection, the Ministry of Culture Luxembourg, and Villa Vauban Musée d’Art de la Ville de Luxembourg. With a background in fine arts, she moves fluidly between sculptural language and cultural narrative, often embedding quiet, enduring stories into physical form. Her sculptures command attention not through scale but through their precision, material sensitivity, and conceptual depth. Mertens appeals to institutions, curators, and collectors seeking work that is both grounded and transformative.
Working at the intersection of sculpture and craft, she creates tactile works that evoke slowness, intimacy, and emotional resonance. Her practice explores the quiet power of natural materials and traditional techniques, often reimagined through a contemporary, conceptual lens
CV
Education
2020 - 2022 Master of Fine Arts - Ceramic and Glass, LUCA School of Arts, Gent BE
2019 - 2020 Premaster Architecture, ArtEz Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Arnhem NL
2015 - 2019 Bachelor of Fine Arts, HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht NL
2017 Exchange Semester RMIT University of Arts, Melbourne AUS
Shows
September - Groupshow - Contour Gallery ( forthcoming)
September. - NAP+ Amsterdam ( forthcoming)
March 2025 - Art Rotterdam
Oct 2024 - YLA Vol.4, Groupshow, Valerius Gallery, Luxembourg LU
July 2024 - Culture For Future, Groupshow, Galerie Schlassgoart, Luxembourg LU
Feb 2024 - ART Rotterdam, Galerie Ron Mandos, Groupshow Legacy Best of Graduates, Rotterdam NL
Jan 2024 - Ceramic Brussels Contemporary Ceramics, Soloshow, Valerius Gallery, Brussels BE
Dec 2023 - Bienvenue à la Villa, Groupshow, Villa Vauban Musée d'Art de la ville Luxembourg, LU
Dec 2023 - ART Antwerp, Duoshow, Valerius Gallery, Antwerpen BE
Nov 2023 - PAN Amsterdam, RAI Amsterdam, Amsterdam NL
Nov 2023 - UNFAIR, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam NL
Sept 2023 - A Gentle Sneeze, Groupshow, Kunsttraject, Amsterdam NL
June 2023 - Boundless Boundaries, Duoshow, Valerius Gallery, Luxembourg LU
June 2023 - Prix Robert Schuman, Groupshow, City Museum Simeonstift Trier, Trier DE
May 2023 -Kunstrai, Janknegt Gallery, RAI Amsterdam, Amsterdam NL
March 2023 - Memento, Groupshow, CAL, Luxembourg LU
Feb 2023 - ART Rotterdam, Valerius Gallery, Van Nelle Fabriek, Rotterdam NL
Nov 2022 - PAN Amsterdam, RAI Amsterdam, Amsterdam NL
Nov 2022 - Promising, Groupshow, PARK, Tilburg NL
Sept 2022 - Isabel Ferrand & Anni Mertens, Duoshow, Kunstliefde, Utrecht NL
June 2022 - Stretch Me To The Moon, Duoshow, Valerius Gallery, Luxembourg LU
June 2022 - The Last Picture Show, Master Graduation Show, LUCA School of Arts, Gent BE
June 2022 - In The Mood, Groupshow, De Verffabriek, Gent BE
May 2022 - Unpacking, Duoshow, VITRINE, Gent BE
May 2022 - ART Rotterdam, Janknegt Galerie, Van Nelle Fabriek, Rotterdam NL
March 2022 - Faux Pas, CAL, Groupshow, , Luxembourg LU
Nov 2021 - Salon Du CAL, Groupshow, Luxembourg Art Week, Luxembourg LU
Aug 2021 - YLA, Groupshow, Valerius Gallery, Luxembourg LU
Aug 2021 - BIENNALE DES ETUDIANTS EN ART, Groupshow, ViArt, Vianden LU
July 2021 - ZOMERSALON '21, Groupshow, KUNSTHAL Gent, Gent BE
May 2021 - Project VITRINE Inke Slock & Anni Mertens, Duoshow, VITRINE, Gent BE
Dec 2020 - Yes, again!, Groupshow, PATTY MORGAN, Amsterdam NL
Oct 2020 - Artistintheworld Utrecht Edition, Groupshow, Galerie Larik, Utrecht NL
Sept 2020 -THE SKY IS BLUE, Groupshow, D.I.R.T Gallery, Rotterdam NL
Sept 2020 - De Belofte, Group Show, Kunstliefde, Utrecht NL
July 2020 - Apprentice Master returns from the Web, Groupshow, TAC, Eindhoven NL
June 2020 - Under certain circumstances, Solo Show, EXBOOT, Utrecht, NL
Feb 2020 - OBJECT Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NL
Jan 2020 - Jonge Talenten 2019, Group Show, ARTPHY, Groningen NL
Oct 2019 - Vers Bij MIJ, Group Show, MUSEUM IJSSELSTEIN, IJsselstein NL
Oct 2019 - Fresh Cacao, Group Show, CACAO FABRIEK, Helmond NL
Oct 2019 - Schepsels en Creaturen, Group Show, KUNSTLIEFDE, Utrecht NL
Sept 2019 - Ernstig Geschikt! 2019, Group Show, Studio OMSTAND, Arnhem NL
July 2019 - BEST OF GRADUATES 2019, Group Show, Galerie RON MANDOS, Amsterdam NL
Prizes/Nominations/Grants
August 2024 - Recipient Mondriaan Fonds Kunstenaar Start, NL
June 2024 - Nominated for Edward Steichen Award, Luxembourg LU
Aug 2023 - Recipient FOCUNA Bourse Fondation Schleich-Lentz pour artistes céramistes, LU
June 2023 - Nominated for Prix Robert Schuman 2023, City Museum Simeonstift Trier, Trier DE
March 2022 - Winner Prix Jeune Talent CAL, Luxembourg, LU
Aug 2021 - Winner Biennale ViArt, ViArt, Vianden, LU
Dec 2020 - Winner Kunstliefdeprijs, Kunstliefde, Utrecht NL
Nov 2019 - Nominated for Carat Lucas Gassel Prijs, Cacaofabriek, Helmond NL
July 2019 - Nominated for Young Blood Award, Galerie Ron Mandos, Amsterdam NL
July 2019 - Winner Option 49 Prijs, HKU, Utrecht NL
July 2019 - Nominated for De Hiviniziki Thesis Prize, HKU, Utrecht NL
July 2019 - Nominated for HKU Award 2019, HKU, Utrecht NL
Collections
Collection of the Dutch Government, The Hague NL
Villa Vauban Musée d’Art de la Ville de Luxembourg, LU
Ministry of Culture Luxembourg, LU
De Menthenberg Collectie, NL
Various private collections in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg
2020 - 2022 Master of Fine Arts - Ceramic and Glass, LUCA School of Arts, Gent BE
2019 - 2020 Premaster Architecture, ArtEz Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Arnhem NL
2015 - 2019 Bachelor of Fine Arts, HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht NL
2017 Exchange Semester RMIT University of Arts, Melbourne AUS
Shows
September - Groupshow - Contour Gallery ( forthcoming)
September. - NAP+ Amsterdam ( forthcoming)
March 2025 - Art Rotterdam
Oct 2024 - YLA Vol.4, Groupshow, Valerius Gallery, Luxembourg LU
July 2024 - Culture For Future, Groupshow, Galerie Schlassgoart, Luxembourg LU
Feb 2024 - ART Rotterdam, Galerie Ron Mandos, Groupshow Legacy Best of Graduates, Rotterdam NL
Jan 2024 - Ceramic Brussels Contemporary Ceramics, Soloshow, Valerius Gallery, Brussels BE
Dec 2023 - Bienvenue à la Villa, Groupshow, Villa Vauban Musée d'Art de la ville Luxembourg, LU
Dec 2023 - ART Antwerp, Duoshow, Valerius Gallery, Antwerpen BE
Nov 2023 - PAN Amsterdam, RAI Amsterdam, Amsterdam NL
Nov 2023 - UNFAIR, Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam NL
Sept 2023 - A Gentle Sneeze, Groupshow, Kunsttraject, Amsterdam NL
June 2023 - Boundless Boundaries, Duoshow, Valerius Gallery, Luxembourg LU
June 2023 - Prix Robert Schuman, Groupshow, City Museum Simeonstift Trier, Trier DE
May 2023 -Kunstrai, Janknegt Gallery, RAI Amsterdam, Amsterdam NL
March 2023 - Memento, Groupshow, CAL, Luxembourg LU
Feb 2023 - ART Rotterdam, Valerius Gallery, Van Nelle Fabriek, Rotterdam NL
Nov 2022 - PAN Amsterdam, RAI Amsterdam, Amsterdam NL
Nov 2022 - Promising, Groupshow, PARK, Tilburg NL
Sept 2022 - Isabel Ferrand & Anni Mertens, Duoshow, Kunstliefde, Utrecht NL
June 2022 - Stretch Me To The Moon, Duoshow, Valerius Gallery, Luxembourg LU
June 2022 - The Last Picture Show, Master Graduation Show, LUCA School of Arts, Gent BE
June 2022 - In The Mood, Groupshow, De Verffabriek, Gent BE
May 2022 - Unpacking, Duoshow, VITRINE, Gent BE
May 2022 - ART Rotterdam, Janknegt Galerie, Van Nelle Fabriek, Rotterdam NL
March 2022 - Faux Pas, CAL, Groupshow, , Luxembourg LU
Nov 2021 - Salon Du CAL, Groupshow, Luxembourg Art Week, Luxembourg LU
Aug 2021 - YLA, Groupshow, Valerius Gallery, Luxembourg LU
Aug 2021 - BIENNALE DES ETUDIANTS EN ART, Groupshow, ViArt, Vianden LU
July 2021 - ZOMERSALON '21, Groupshow, KUNSTHAL Gent, Gent BE
May 2021 - Project VITRINE Inke Slock & Anni Mertens, Duoshow, VITRINE, Gent BE
Dec 2020 - Yes, again!, Groupshow, PATTY MORGAN, Amsterdam NL
Oct 2020 - Artistintheworld Utrecht Edition, Groupshow, Galerie Larik, Utrecht NL
Sept 2020 -THE SKY IS BLUE, Groupshow, D.I.R.T Gallery, Rotterdam NL
Sept 2020 - De Belofte, Group Show, Kunstliefde, Utrecht NL
July 2020 - Apprentice Master returns from the Web, Groupshow, TAC, Eindhoven NL
June 2020 - Under certain circumstances, Solo Show, EXBOOT, Utrecht, NL
Feb 2020 - OBJECT Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NL
Jan 2020 - Jonge Talenten 2019, Group Show, ARTPHY, Groningen NL
Oct 2019 - Vers Bij MIJ, Group Show, MUSEUM IJSSELSTEIN, IJsselstein NL
Oct 2019 - Fresh Cacao, Group Show, CACAO FABRIEK, Helmond NL
Oct 2019 - Schepsels en Creaturen, Group Show, KUNSTLIEFDE, Utrecht NL
Sept 2019 - Ernstig Geschikt! 2019, Group Show, Studio OMSTAND, Arnhem NL
July 2019 - BEST OF GRADUATES 2019, Group Show, Galerie RON MANDOS, Amsterdam NL
Prizes/Nominations/Grants
August 2024 - Recipient Mondriaan Fonds Kunstenaar Start, NL
June 2024 - Nominated for Edward Steichen Award, Luxembourg LU
Aug 2023 - Recipient FOCUNA Bourse Fondation Schleich-Lentz pour artistes céramistes, LU
June 2023 - Nominated for Prix Robert Schuman 2023, City Museum Simeonstift Trier, Trier DE
March 2022 - Winner Prix Jeune Talent CAL, Luxembourg, LU
Aug 2021 - Winner Biennale ViArt, ViArt, Vianden, LU
Dec 2020 - Winner Kunstliefdeprijs, Kunstliefde, Utrecht NL
Nov 2019 - Nominated for Carat Lucas Gassel Prijs, Cacaofabriek, Helmond NL
July 2019 - Nominated for Young Blood Award, Galerie Ron Mandos, Amsterdam NL
July 2019 - Winner Option 49 Prijs, HKU, Utrecht NL
July 2019 - Nominated for De Hiviniziki Thesis Prize, HKU, Utrecht NL
July 2019 - Nominated for HKU Award 2019, HKU, Utrecht NL
Collections
Collection of the Dutch Government, The Hague NL
Villa Vauban Musée d’Art de la Ville de Luxembourg, LU
Ministry of Culture Luxembourg, LU
De Menthenberg Collectie, NL
Various private collections in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg
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