Diederick
Kraaijeveld

sculptor

Dutch artist Diederick Kraaijeveld constructs truly unique photo-realistic collages from salvaged wood. His images are icons plucked from the contemporary Diaspora: Chuck Taylor Converses, a Magnum .44, a roll of dollar bills, a pack of cigarettes, a VW van.

Kraaijeveld’s pieces have all been beautifully created from genuine, coloured vintage wood that the artist himself collects as he travels the globe: from abandoned buildings in the Mojave Desert to 16th century Dutch mansion floors. Given that a single work can require over a hundred pieces of different wood, this process is as vital and impactful as the actual assemblage of the found materials.

Though the pieces sometimes burst with colour, Kraaijeveld doesn’t use a drop of paint himself. He chooses, instead, to preserve the original colour and hue, allowing the individual layers to form their own unique combinations. These striking arrangements, of untouched and irregular wood surfaces, allow their history to shine through. From afar, the work retains its realism; up close, the artist’s wizardry is revealed. It is close up that one can see the sheer amount of work and precision involved.

It is his goal to create luminous and desirable icons out of material that the world has discarded. As he points out, his works are built out of “material that people have thrown away because they deemed it worthless”. It is this kind of flat-lined irony and playfulness that permeates his work. His work is an examination of the interplay between pop culture and culture as a whole, presented in a wholly unique and beautiful manner.

Exhibitions

2023
Reopening Museum Royal Palace Het Loo – permanent display portrait of King Willem Alexander

2022
‘Home is where the art is’ Group show Kunsthal Rotterdam
Unveiling portrait mayor Pieter Broertjes – permanent display Hall of fame City Hall Hilversum
‘Helmen vol verhalen’ – Helmet full of stories – travelling group show honoring Dutch war veterans

2021
Unveiling large scale mural ‘Flying Sparrow’ – city of Hilversum

2019
Art Miami – with Wanrooij Gallery December 2019
Summer exhibition ‘Long Live Rembrandt’ RIJKSmuseum Amsterdam July – August – September 2019
‘Meet Materials’ Unexpected/Wanrooij gallery Amsterdam summer 2019
Terschelling Project Terschelling/Harlingen spring 2019

2018
Art Miami December 2018
Dutch Design Week Piet Hein Eek Eindhoven October 2018
Special commission NOS television portrait King William Alexander May 2018
Salone del Mobile Milano Rosanna Orlandi May 2018
Art New York May 2018

2017
Art Miami December 2017
Powervrouwen Museum Jan Cunen September 2017 – January 2018
Dutch Design Week Piet Hein Eek Eindhoven October 2017
Art New York May 2017

2016
Art Miami December 2016
Commissioned Wall Art ‘Mother Earth’ Wageningen University October 2016
Art New York May 2016

2015
Pirate Raft show, Apalachicola Florida September 2015
Manifest: Justice, Los Angeles May 2015

2014
World’s first drive through gallery show, Museum of Wonder Seale Alabama September 2014

2013
Art Miami, Miami December 2013
Mythic 27. Group show Paris December 2013
Skull show. Group show The Garage Amsterdam November/December 2013
American Icons, Design Matters September 2013
Beeld van Beatrix, Paleis Soestdijk Soest July-September 2013
Zomer Expo 2013 ‘Aarde’, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag
Beeld van Beatrix, Museum Paleis Het Loo, Apeldoorn January – May 2013

2012
Solo Plus One London October 2012
Solo SODA Istanbul September 2012
Duo Show Cheryl Hazan NYC May 2012
‘Huis van Oranje’ Oranienbaum Germany April 2012
Art Karlsruhe (die Hamburger Galerie) March 2012

2011
The Red Show Cheryl Hazan New York December 2011
Assemblage group show ATHR gallery Jeddah Saoudi Arabia December 2011
‘Assemblage’ Group show Cuadro Art Dubai UAE October 2011
Art Karlsruhe (die Hamburger Galerie) March 2011

2010
Doodgewoon, group show Museum Hilversum, Hilversum NL
Solo show Plus One gallery London UK
ARTAQ (winner ‘Sculpture Award’). Angers, Paris, Lyon, Bruxelles and Berlin
Manifest Equality group show Los Angeles CA USA
Winter show Plus One gallery London UK
Manifest Hope group show Washington DC USA

2009
PAN Amsterdam/Canvas International Art, Amsterdam Holland
Lokal Heroz, Rotterdam, Holland
RAW, group show Chicago ILL
Run Blago Run group show Chicago ILL
Plus One Gallery, solo show London UK
Cuadro Art Gallery, DIFC Dubai UAE
NJSHF ‘The art of soccer’ group show New York NY
Manifest Hope Gallery/Irvine Gallery Obama Art group show Washington DC

2008
Gallery Amsterdam / Carmel CA USA
Pebble Beach CA/Concours d’Elegance 2008 Spyker Laviolette
M’Ars Gallery / Moscow Russia (group show)
Manifest Hope Gallery/Andenken Gallery / Denver CO USA (group show)
Art London 2008 / London UK
Gemeente Museum / Den Haag Holland (group show Sterren op het Doek)
Beeld en Geluid / Hilversum Holland (group show Sterren op het Doek)
Van Abbe Museum / Eindhoven Holland (group show Sterren op het Doek)
Plus One Gallery / London UK
Superstore 05 Modefabriek / Amsterdam Holland (group show)
Nike Art of Football Gallery / Basel Switserland (group show)
Gallery Cheryl Hazan / New York NY USA

2007
Gallery Amsterdam / Carmel CA USA
Design Route 2007 / Eindhoven Holland

2006
Gallery Wolvenstraat / Amsterdam Holland
Gallery Your Cup of T / Amsterdam Holland