Cees Dolk

Cees Dolk was born in Rotterdam in 1949. He studied at the Artibus Academy in Utrecht, the University of Jalapa in Veracruz, Mexico, and the Styria Studio in New York, among other places. In addition to being a painter, Dolk is also a bookbinder. Dolk’s work, which consists of collages, paintings, lithographs, and drawings, is characterized by his bold use of primary colors. Dolk presents us with a sensory experience, in which distinct forms and colors leave a strong visual impression. The formlessness of his mind—filled with conflicting thoughts and feelings—takes shape on paper and canvas. We often see how different layers and forms interact, sometimes in conflict and sometimes in harmony. The titles of Dolk’s works often clearly refer to the artwork we see, as in “Tulips & Such” or the “Flora and Fauna” series. Other titles are more mysterious and leave us guessing at what it is we are seeing, as in his “Talmen en Dralen” series or the works titled “Roerend en onroerend.”

On July 7, 2016, Cees Dolk passed away at the age of 66 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.