Ellsworth Kelly Sculpture Exhibition Enlivens Rijksmuseum Gardens in Amsterdam
This summer, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is hosting a compelling outdoor exhibition featuring large-scale sculptures by acclaimed American artist Ellsworth Kelly. Visitors to the museum gardens will encounter nine significant works, including two towering steel arches that stand nearly three storeys tall, creating a striking visual dialogue with the historic museum architecture. This marks the first time these particular sculptures by Kelly have been exhibited in the Netherlands.
The exhibition, titled "Ellsworth Kelly in the Rijksmuseum Gardens," is freely accessible to the public and offers a unique opportunity to experience abstract art within a picturesque urban setting. The installations will be on display until October 24, 2021. This presentation is made possible through a collaboration with the Ellsworth Kelly Studio and the New York State Collection.
Discovering Ellsworth Kelly's Distinctive Artistic Vision
Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015) is recognized as a pivotal abstract artist of the latter half of the 20th century. His artistic process involved distilling observations from his surroundings into essential, clean-cut forms and surfaces. The exhibition showcases this approach through various pieces, such as the reclining Curve I (1973), an abstraction inspired by a carton cup, and Yellow Blue (1968), a vividly contrasting sculpture.
Kelly's work blurs the lines between painting and sculpture, with his primary focus always on form. He once noted that "In sculpture, the work itself is the form and the ground is the space around it." The sculptures in the gardens, crafted from materials like bronze, weathering steel, and wood, use intense, counterpoised colors and precise contours to create clear visual statements that interact dynamically with their environment. The selection provides a representative overview of Kelly’s sculptural output from the 1960s until shortly before his passing.
A Tradition of Outdoor Art in Amsterdam
The "Ellsworth Kelly in the Rijksmuseum Gardens" exhibition continues a celebrated series of outdoor sculpture displays curated by Alfred Pacquement, former director of the Pompidou Centre in Paris. This annual tradition has previously showcased works by renowned artists such as Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Joan Miró, Giuseppe Penone, Jean Dubuffet, Eduardo Chillida, and Louise Bourgeois, enriching Amsterdam's cultural landscape.
Extending the Artistic Journey
Beyond the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, known for its extensive collection of American abstract post-war art, also has a historical connection with Ellsworth Kelly. Following the outdoor exhibition, the Stedelijk Museum will feature Kelly's Blue Red Rocker sculpture from 1963 and the painting Blue Curve VI from 1982, offering visitors another dimension of his work. An accompanying catalogue, "Ellsworth Kelly in the Rijksmuseum Gardens," written by Alfred Pacquement with a contribution from Carel Blotkamp, will be available from mid-June 2021.
To explore more cultural experiences like this exhibition and other museums across Amsterdam, visit Musemap (musemap.art). You can find more details about various cultural spots by browsing our museum list or discovering current events on our What's On page.
