A landmark Willem de Kooning exhibition is coming to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
A major exhibition dedicated to the legendary 20th-century artist Willem de Kooning is set to open in Amsterdam. The highly anticipated presentation, titled Willem de Kooning at Work, offers an extensive look at the artist's creative process, featuring over 120 pieces.
A century after the artist departed his native Rotterdam for the United States, this major exhibition marks a grand homecoming. It will run from 9 October 2026 through 17 January 2027, organized in partnership with the Art Institute of Chicago and The Willem de Kooning Foundation in New York.
What visitors can expect at the Rijksmuseum's new showcase
While Willem de Kooning is widely celebrated for his bold paintings and sculptures, this exhibition shines a unique spotlight on his drawings. For de Kooning, sketching and drawing were not merely preparatory steps, but the very core of his artistic practice.
The display gathers rarely seen drawings from private and public collections worldwide, pairing them with iconic paintings and sculptures to show how he constantly reinvented his style over a career spanning more than 65 years. Visitors will get a raw, behind-the-scenes look at how the artist experimented, revised, and pushed boundaries—sometimes drawing with his eyes closed or blending the lines between drawing and painting entirely.
Notable works on display include Pink Angels, Abstraction, Woman (1983), and the monumental painting Excavation.
In addition to the main exhibition galleries, the Rijksmuseum will display two of de Kooning’s most famous masterpieces—Woman I and Woman and Bicycle—in its prestigious Gallery of Honour. This special placement positions the modern master directly alongside the historic giants of Dutch painting.
The journey of a modern Dutch master
Born in Rotterdam in 1904, Willem de Kooning developed his artistic skills early, attending evening classes at the local academy and apprenticing in decorative arts. In 1926, he famously stowed away on a cargo ship bound for America, eventually settling in New York.
After working various odd jobs as a house painter and designer, de Kooning transitioned to a full-time career in fine art. By the late 1940s, he emerged as a leading figure of the New York School, working alongside contemporaries like Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Although closely associated with Abstract Expressionism, de Kooning famously resisted artistic labels, spending his life in a restless search for new forms of expression.
Parallel events and public programs in the Netherlands
The exhibition will be accompanied by an array of educational and cultural activities. The Rijksmuseum’s own creative space, the Teekenschool, will host dedicated drawing workshops, and visitors can also take advantage of an informative audio tour and a specialized modern art history masterclass. Two new publications—a comprehensive research catalogue and an introductory book—will also be released.
Beyond Amsterdam, other Dutch cultural institutions are marking the artist's return:
- Rotterdam: The Fenix migration museum will display three of de Kooning's large-scale bronze sculptures on its waterfront quay starting 18 July 2026.
- Utrecht: Graphic design students from the HKU University of the Arts Utrecht have created poster designs inspired by the artist’s quotes, which will be displayed in several cities over the summer.
- Willem de Kooning Academy: Students at the Rotterdam-based academy named after the artist will participate in an open call to upcycle Rijksmuseum canvas bags, with the winning designs sold in the museum shop.
Whether you are a lifelong admirer of abstract art or discovering his practice for the first time, this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience the full career of a Dutch-born global icon. To start planning your next cultural outing, you can explore more Amsterdam museums through Musemap (musemap.art), search for specific cultural spaces on our interactive Amsterdam map, or browse other upcoming events on our Amsterdam cultural calendar.
