Jan Worst

Jan Worst was born in Heerenveen in 1953. From 1971 to 1976, he studied at the Minerva Academy of Fine Arts in Groningen. According to him, describing Jan Worst’s paintings as “realistic” can lead to misunderstandings. The concept of realism is linked to the depiction of reality and, as such, is for the painter a somewhat secondary and perhaps even outdated activity. Jan Worst’s paintings are composed of recognizable elements. But this does not mean that the viewer should take this recognizability for granted. Worst collects fragments from various realities: antique furniture and carpets, children and young women who seem to have stepped straight out of a fashion magazine. He brings all of this together in a single painting. His works depict an illusory world far removed from everyday reality. Unlike science, which seeks to reveal and unmask, Jan Worst believes that art is about concealing and hiding. In addition to the Netherlands, he has exhibited in various other countries, including Italy and Germany.