“I am inspired by emptiness and space. Spatiality and infinite space must be present even in the smallest work. That is why I go to Ireland, Scotland and Iceland for several weeks every year.“
For my work as a visual artist, stays abroad have been especially important. During the past few years I had the oppurtunity to work in several artist residencies in Ireland and Scotland. Iceland and the Faroer Islands.
I have worked independently and took part in projects and I took important artistic steps during these stays.
What fascinates me about an artist residency is that it is often in an enviremont where there is no art or where art has a total different meaning then the one I give to it or the meaning customary in the Netherlands.
This creates a special tension and makes me ask myself questions about my artistery. A residency is therefore always an inspiring experience in which openings arise to new developments in my work
Short Bio Wilma Vissers
Wilma was born in Heerlen.
She lives and works in Groningen in the Netherlands. She was educated at Royal Academy of Art and Design, Den Bosch, 1984 1985 ( second year ) Direction: Graphic Arts and Painting as well as the Academy of Visual Arts Minerva, Groningen, 1985-1989 Final examination: 1989 Direction: Graphic Arts and Painting.
Wilma creates paintings, sculptures, drawings, artist books and installations. Space and emptiness inspires her. Spaciousness and infinity must be present in even the smallest work. For the last 15 years, staying at artists residencies has become part of her work process. She went alternately to artist residencies in Ireland, Scotland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.
Through staying in foreign surroundings, she steps out of her comfort zone. It allows her to experiment and take important artistic steps around the question: What do we call a painting? Traditional painting is a linen or cotton canvas on a frame.
She likes to practice painting without using these classical means and create something more experimental. A few residencies where the Skaffelt Art Centre in Seydisfjordir Iceland and the Heinrich Böll Cottage on Achill Island, Ireland. She participated in “Artsland” in Fermanagh Lakelands, Northern Ireland.
She received a grant from the Gerbrandy Foundation for her travel to Iceland. Her work is in the collection of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland, the Sunda Municipality in the Faroe islands, ARTisBOOK. Groningen,The Netherlands, Nival, Dublin Ireland.
Recently she started to live in Glencolmcille County, Donegal. Ireland
Wilma Vissers
Curriculum Vitae – CV
Name: Wilma Vissers
Studio: Hofstraat 21-16, Groningen
The Netherlands
Drim Cottage Glencolmcille Donegal Ireland
E-mail; info@wilmavissers.com
Website: www.wilmavissers.com
Art education
Royal Academy of Art and Design, Den Bosch,
1984-1985 ( second year )
Direction: Graphic Arts and Painting
Academy of Visual Arts Minerva, Groningen, 1985-1989
Final examination: 1989
Direction: Graphic Arts and Painting
Exhibitions( a selection )
2024:
“Travel References” ARTisBOOK Groningen Group
“Le Pli” Abstract Project Paris Group
“Sale” Ruimte Ceasuur Middelburg Group
“Unboxing” Limerick Museum Ireland Solo
Atelier des Eimprentes Montsoreau France Group
Kleine Zaal de Vishal Haarlem Solo
“Inside Out” Drawing Box exhibition Leitrim Sculpture Center
Manorhamilton Ireland Group
2023:
The Projektroom Glasgow, Group, UK
Abstract Project Paris Group
2022; Group exhibitions, Gloam Gallery, Sheffield UK
“An Expanding Field” curated by Stu Burke
“Farbmalerei Positionen-Niederlande”
VFAKR Oberhausen Germany
“Druk” Kunstlokaal 08 Jubbega
2020; Fenderesky Gallery, Belfast, Solo
2019;
Dingeman House/ the Zonnestraal, Essentie, Utrecht/ Hilversum, Group
Keik. Groningen, with Lydia Wierenga
‘Drawing Now’ at Institute of Contemporary Art
Maine College of Art, Portland USA. Group
Exhibition Duo Groningen. Solo
2018;
Bos Fine Art Den haag. Group
Art Noord Belvedere, Kunstlokaal 08
‘Small World’ Caesuur Middelburg. Group
‘Essentie’Broere church Bolsward. Cultural Capital Europe Leeuwarden. Group
‘Structure Games’ at Gallery Olivier Nouvellet, Paris. Group
Retrospect. AWP ACEC Apeldoorn. Group
2017;
‘Views’ with Giel Louws, Kunstlokaal 08 Jubbega
‘Summerexhibition’ at LaKaserna, Bad Nieuweschans. Group
‘Concreet’ 100 jaar later, at ARS(Ars Aemula Naturae), Leiden. Group
‘Abstract Wall Paintings’, #DESTIJL100YEARS, ACEC, Apeldoorn. Group
Drawing Collective, Gallery Olivier Nouvellet, Paris.Group
Drawing Collective, Articulate Upstairs. Group Sidney
2016;
Drawing Collective, Abstract Project, Paris. Group
Participation at ‘Elementary Imagery’. Exhibition to celebrate the centenary off The Stijl, SMAHK, Assen,
The Netherlands
2015;
‘Suchness/Sosein’, international group-exhibition at Raumx, londen.
‘We insist, On insiste’. Biennale international non objective art. Pont de Claix. France.
‘Show Your Colors’, international group-exhibition at SMAHK Assen, the Netherlands.
‘Lointain’ with Hans Goudsblom at le Hang Art Gallery, Grenoble, France.
I also exhibited
‘Ellipse’, at A3 Gallery , International group-exhibition in Moskow.
‘Crossing Lines’ Solo-exhibition at Clinton Centre, Enniskillen Northern Ireland.
‘Nachtijall ick hör dir trapsen’ – Vice Versa 3, Kurt Im Hirsch, Berlin.
‘What I like about you’ Parallel Art Space, New York.
‘They’, Sainte Marie d’Alloix, France.
‘SoSS” in the Art Center, Rapla, Estonia.
Participation at ‘Position fluide’ ParisCONCRET , Paris. Group
Solo-exhibition at BBK Gallery, Oldenburg, Germany.
Artist Residencys;
2010/2011 Cló Ceardlann in Donegal, Ireland
2012/2014 Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Monaghan Ireland
2014/2021 Heinrich Boll Foundation, Achill island, Ireland
2016, The Booth, Scalloway, the Shetlands
2017/2023 Cill Rialaig Ireland.
2018: Printed Matter residency Skaftfell Iceland
2019 Artsland Residency Northern Ireland
2022 Residency at Tjornuvik in the Faroe Islands
2013/2014 Curator of ‘Manic episode 4, Maniac visits Groningen’. At TAS Groningen,
2016 Curator of ‘Miniscules’ at Gallery Badweg 3 Bolsward,
2017/2020 Curator of ‘Geen Titel/No Title’ with Rudy lanjouw at Ruimte P 60 Assen
2018 Curator of ‘Boek wat Kunst’ at WKB18 ARTisBOOK Groningen
2021 Curator of the Drawingbox exhibition at Studio Wilma Vissers
2022 Expoost at Studio Wilma Vissers
2023 Curator at the Portiersloge/Gatekeeperslodge Groningen
2013Work in collection: Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Ireland
2014 My artworks have been accepted in to the viewing program of the Drawing Centre in New York
2018 Gerbrandy Foundation: Travel Grant Iceland
2019 Lough Erne Library Artsland Northern Ireland
2021 Steunfonds Kunstraad Groningen Drawingbox traveling exhibition
2021/2022Werkbijdrage Pictoright