Arno Sijben
Artist statement:
For me, the process of painting and drawing is perhaps more important than the content. My studio is like a laboratory, where I research and experiment. Not haphazardly and at random, but well-considered and process-based. While making with and on paper, I work piecemeal; layer upon layer of watercolour, pencil and pastel crayon combined with chalk paper on the support. Materials I have made my own over the last few years. Coincidence is a good friend, and the original idea or initial composition no sacred goal. Anything to strike the intended mood. An atmosphere that challenges the viewer to look from his feelings and be touched.
To give my work content, I draw inspiration from nature and the daily news. In the resulting works, I balance between figuration and abstraction, or recognisable and mysterious. A fine line where meaning is fluid, emptiness is palpable and emotions of comfort, tenderness and melancholy are evoked.
I (Heerlen, 1968) studied at the Maastricht Institute of Art, autonomous design/art. After this course, I obtained my Bachelor of Education in Fine Art and Design from Zuyd Maastricht University. Besides being an artist, I teach art education at various institutions and am art coordinator for Zuyderland MC.
Selection 30 x 30 x 30
CV
Exhibitions (selection last 5 years)
2025 Artsingel 100 in Amsterdam. Drawing Cabinet (Teken Kabinet) XIII. (G)
2025 Amuse by Galerie Wilms in Venlo in collaboration with Kunstcentrum Haarlem. (G)
2025 Ainsi ‘Open atelier days’, 2025, guest artist. (G)
2025 Super-Sam, Maastricht. (G)
2024 ‘Garden of Dreams’, Winter, Galerie Toonzaal 11, Stein (G)
2024 Artsingel 100, i.c.w. tekenkabinet XII
2024 ‘Garden of Dreams’, Galerie Toonzaal 11, Stein (G)
2024 Amuse, Galerie Wilms, Venlo. (G)
2024 Tekenkabinet X||, Galerie BMB, Amsterdam (G)
2023 Kopermolen Vaals Duo exhibition with Nikki Plelaez (D)
2023 Is getekend, drawings from the art collection Zuyderland. Zuyderland Heerlen. (G)
2023 Artsingel100, i.c.w. tekenkabinet XI in Amsterdam (G)
2023 Guest artist at Openatelier AINSI, Maastricht (G)
2023 “Tekenkabinet XI BMB space in Amsterdam (G)
2022 ‘Le sentiment du vide’, duo exhibition with Marie-Josee Comello, Urmond (D)
2022 ‘Het staat gedrukt’, Zuyderland MC (G)
2022 Landscape 2. 1 Museum de Domijnen, Sittard/Geleen (G)
2022 ‘Amuse’ Kunstrai, Galerie Wilms. (G)
2021 Landscape 2.0 Museum de Domijnen, Sittard/Geleen. (G)
2021 ‘Amuse’ Kunstrai, Galerie Wilms. (G)
2020 ‘Amuse digital’, Galerie Wilms. (G)
Work in corporate collections
Art loan Bonnefantenmuseum
Provinciehuis Limburg Art-collection
Zuyderland artcollection
Dela-artcollection
Atrium MC
