Kees Wennekendonk (Rotterdam, 1957) is a portrait artist, photographer, he designs eyeglass frames, writes songs, poetry, and prose, and composes music for theater and film. He is also the man behind the crossover concepts WordScape, artistic dinners Keldergangen, and the Pindaconcerten Art Salons. Since 1995, he has had a living and working studio in a wharf cellar on the Oudegracht in Utrecht.

In the past, he composed for the Noord-Nederlands-Toneel (amongst others), was a musical commentator behind the piano for the talk show 'Karel', and has designed many eyeglass frames for cultural legends like Jules Deelder. Wennekendonk's poems have appeared in many anthologies, and in 2006, an art book by him, 'Portretten 2003-2006', was published. In 2012, 65 portraits were designated and purchased by the Utrecht Archives as Utrecht cultural heritage. In 2014, he received a commission from the Municipality of Utrecht for the official portrait of former Mayor Aleid Wolfsen. In 2015, he received a commission from the Ministry of the Interior to create official portraits of outgoing ministers, starting with Gerd Leers and Liesbeth Spies.

In 2016, seven large photographs entitled Stadslichtwere hung in the Utrecht City Hall; in March-May 2017 there was an exhibition of his work at the Centraal Museum Utrecht, followed by an exhibition of photographic work at the Stadsschouwburg Utrecht in 2028. In 2019 the presentation and exhibition of 5 portraits commissioned by the Centraal Museum Utrecht took place, featuring his Pyke Koch, Gerrit Rietveld, Dick Bruna, Peter Vos, and Joop Moesman. For much, much more about the his amazing career click here!

The artist about this piece:

“This photo is attracting an amazing amount of attention from across the world, for which I’m very grateful. It’s being compared to paintings by Vermeer, and his The Milkmaid in particular. Which is… a lot. I hope this image can contribute to the thought given to human values, migration, culture and mutual respect.

During the preparations of my exhibition ‘Kees Wennekendonk, multi disciplinary artist’ at the Urecht central museum I came across a cleaning lady in the catacombs of said building. The incredible beauty of this living image in front of me, with these incredible colors and obvious references to the art of painting hit me like a flash of lightning. The result of which made it on to all the national tv channels and newspapers in Turkey. Bart Rutten, the artistic director of the museum, bought a first print for the museum’s collection.”

Printed on Epson Pearl paper, Geprint op Epson Pearle papier, attached to 3 mm dibond 3, complete with mounting system.
100 x 80 cm = € 1299,-.*
Other measurements available.. 

*) In a limited edition of 12.