John Nieland Dutch, b. 1966

John Nieland (1966, Baflo) is a Dutch painter whose work breathes new life into the raw, emotive spirit of the CoBrA movement. Born in Groningen and raised in Friesland, Nieland briefly attended the Rietveld Academy before forging an independent path, preferring the honesty of the subconscious over formal academic constraints.

 

His artistic journey is deeply intertwined with the music industry, where he spent years as an A&R manager and producer. This rhythmic influence is evident in his abstract-expressionist style, characterised by bold colours and thick, impasto layers of paint. In 1996, he founded the Amsterdam-based art collective Lamütta, collaborating with figures like the iconic Herman Brood.

 

Nieland’s career is marked by a profound connection to Japan. Invited by the Japanese government on several occasions, he has lived and exhibited extensively across the country, including a notable residency at the Shiranuhi Art Museum. This cross-cultural dialogue continues through his collective DUJA, which bridges the gap between Dutch and Japanese artists.

Currently, his project ‘Bestemming Onbekend’ (Destination Unknown) sees him exhibiting in diverse spaces, from the Herman van Veen Arts Center to the Rosa Spier Huis. Whether through his canvases or unique ventures, like hand-painting limited-edition vinyl covers, Nieland remains a vital force in contemporary expressionism, represented by prominent galleries such as Morren Galleries in Utrecht.