Wouter Stips

Wouter Stips (Wassenaar 1944) was already painting as a child. He studied graphic design at the Academy of Visual Arts in Rotterdam. After his studies he was involved in various forms of visual and applied arts. He exhibited graphics and paintings, made animated films in Prague, puppets in Paris, wrote and directed theater performances and published books and comics. From 1980 to 1995 he made documentaries, drama and comedy series as a director and author. In 1996, Wouter decided to leave his television career behind to dedicate himself again to his great love: free painting. And immediately the characteristic style revealed itself.

Wouter Stips' works are colorful and appear optimistic, unapologetic and gently poetic. They are populated by wonderful human figures, animals and angels. At first glance, Wouter's imaginative images are reminiscent of children's drawings. They exude the same spontaneity, uninhibitedness and naivety. With their bright, unmixed colors, the works evoke an infectious cheerfulness. The compositions look simple but are not. They contain many layers and have been composed and balanced with the utmost care. The artist himself says that he learned “to make a beautiful leaf” during his time at the academy. The combination of image and text, which Stips invariably does, is also a reminder of his training as a graphic designer. The texts come to the artist spontaneously and he applies them as the work nears completion. They form an extra layer that helps us see and are at the same time an indispensable aesthetic element in the composition. Image and text tell a coherent story about universal values ​​such as love & trust, life & death, something & nothing. The first sight of Wouter's universe evokes spontaneous cheerfulness, but on closer inspection it is full of meaning and makes you think and reflect.

De Galerie Den Haag offers you a choice of 33 werken from Wouter Stips. Click on one of the works for more information and availability for hire.