Folkert de Jong
Biography
°1972, Egmond aan Zee, NL
Lives and works in Amsterdam.
Graduated from the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten Amsterdam in 2000.
International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York 2004.
Folkert De Jong made an international name with his life size sculptures in chemical high tech materials that are mainly used for household tools and the manufacturing industry. The bright colours and the light weight of the foam sculptures deliberately confuse the viewer with an apparent lightness that is at odds with their sinister subject. The grotesque figures are an unorthodox means to highlight themes such as mortality and decay.
Folkert de Jong recently showed a monumental installation on Art Basel Unlimited and will present a solo exhibition in 2023 in Kunsthal KAde. His sculptures have been collected by Centre for Visual Arts, Dordrecht (NL); GEM Museum for Contemporary Art, Den Haag (NL); Groninger Museum, Groningen (NL); Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (USA); Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles (USA); The Plancius Collection, Amsterdam (NL); Middelheim Museum, Antwerp (NL); and The Saatchi Collection, London (UK).
Folkert de Jong is represented by Gallery Sofie Van de Velde and Galerie Fons Welters (Amsterdam).


°1972, Egmond aan Zee, NL
Lives and works in Amsterdam.
Graduated from the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten Amsterdam in 2000.
International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York 2004.
Folkert De Jong made an international name with his life size sculptures in chemical high tech materials that are mainly used for household tools and the manufacturing industry. The bright colours and the light weight of the foam sculptures deliberately confuse the viewer with an apparent lightness that is at odds with their sinister subject. The grotesque figures are an unorthodox means to highlight themes such as mortality and decay.
Folkert de Jong recently showed a monumental installation on Art Basel Unlimited and will present a solo exhibition in 2023 in Kunsthal KAde. His sculptures have been collected by Centre for Visual Arts, Dordrecht (NL); GEM Museum for Contemporary Art, Den Haag (NL); Groninger Museum, Groningen (NL); Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University (USA); Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles (USA); The Plancius Collection, Amsterdam (NL); Middelheim Museum, Antwerp (NL); and The Saatchi Collection, London (UK).
Folkert de Jong is represented by Gallery Sofie Van de Velde and Galerie Fons Welters (Amsterdam).
Selected Solo Exhibitions |
|
2023 | 'Kunsthal Kade', Amersfoort, NL |
2022 | 'Kunstenfestival Aardenburg', Aardenburg, NL |
2021 | 'The Game', Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, Antwerp, BE |
2020 | 'The Shooting...at Watou; 1st of July', Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, NL |
2019 | 'Beginnings', Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, NL |
2018 | 'Last Nation', MOCA, Tucson, USA |
2017 | GEM, The Hague, NL |
2016 | 'And Nothing But The Truth', Brand New Gallery, Milan, IT |
2015 | 'Court of Justice', Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, NL |
2014 | 'Hominid Lands', Musee d’Evreux, Evreux, FR |
2013 | Middelheim Museum, Antwerp, BE |
2012 | 'The Bull's Eye', ARARIO Gallery Seoul, KR |
Selected Group Exhibitions |
|
2022 | 'I Can Live Forever, curated by Folkert de Jong', Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, New South, Antwerp, BE |
2019 | 'Destroy All Monsters', Comrades of Time Comrades of Time Comrades of Time Comrades of Time, Stichting Whatspace, Basel, CH |
2018 | 'Out of Office', Singer Museum Laren, Laren, NL |
2017 | 'Archive Fever', Kunstruimte De Nederlandsche Bank, Amsterdam, NL |
2016 | 'Zoals jij en ik', Art Chapel, Amsterdam, NL |
2015 | 'Sculpture in the City', London, UK |
2014 | 'Affinities #1', Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam, NL |
Prizes |
|
2005 | Den Haag Sculpture ‘Orange Award’ |
2004 | Thieme Art Award |
2003 | Nomination Prix de Rome, Sculpture |
2002 | Charlotte Köhler Prize |
Artworks

Folkert de Jong
Hegemonia, 2014
Patinated bronze
85 x 24 x 24 cm

Folkert de Jong
Totemism, 2010
Styrofoam, pigmented polyurethane
360 x 70 x 70 cm

Folkert de Jong
Sick Boy Sick, 2000
Acryl and oil pastel on paper
113,5 x 72,5 cm

Folkert de Jong
I can live forever in formaldehyde, 2016
Pigmented polyurethane foam, paint, nylon wig
155 x 60 x 40 cm

Folkert de Jong
Death to the traitors, 2009
UV resistant marker on acid free paper
59,4 x 42 cm

Folkert de Jong
Alive, 2021
pigmented epoxy
16 x 31 x 3,5 cm
Edition of 50 (all unique colours)

Folkert de Jong
Head of Golden Smile 1, 2007
Pigmented polyurthane
28 x 23 x 22 cm

Folkert de Jong
Head of a Saltimbanque, 2007
Pigmented polyurthane
23 x 18 x 22 cm

Folkert de Jong
Head of Shirley 1, 2011
Pigmented polyurthane
20 x 20 x 22 cm

Folkert de Jong
Spanish Port, 2008
Pigmented polyurthane
Styrofoam
180 x 88 x 50 cm

Folkert de Jong
Trader's deal #6, 2010
Pigmented polyurthane Styrofoam
200 x 70 x 70

Folkert de Jong
The Mover (Theo), 2017
Pigmented polyurethane, wood, Moto ’73 magazine, hat, metal screws, paintbrush
220 x 100 x 100 cm

Folkert de Jong
FEMEN Picasso, 2017
Pigmented polyurethane, wood, metal screws
180 x 150 x 60

Folkert de Jong
Jackie, 2019
Pigmented polyurthane
Metal
160 x 50 x 70

Folkert de Jong
Beta Station, 2015
Polyurethanefoam, metal, wood, spraypaint, acrylic glass
185 x 45 x 35 cm

Folkert de Jong
The New Realm
UV resistant marker on acid free paper
60 x 41 cm
Framed