About

Nynke van Zwol (1972) graduated from the Wackers Academy of Fine Art in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Before studying Art, she studied Philosophy, Arabic and Linguistics and has worked for several years as a clinical and forensic linguist. Language has always been an important factor in her life and work.

Her fascination with ancient undeciphered scripts has led to the construction of her own asemic (meaningless) glyphs. The calligraphic forms are based on ancient scripts like cuneiform, linear-a and runes. These glyphs are used in watercolor paintings and drawings. Their meaninglessness makes them universally interpretable.

Nyn’s skills with watercolor are best represented in her landscape collages. These are elegantly simple works where sky is divided from land or sea by a single line. They are serene portals to a world of possibilities, where the viewer has every room to dream. Their open interpretability is comparable to the asemic works.

Colored pencil is another favorite material of hers. Her meticulously drawn botanical and animal subjects, from large scale to miniature sized, are a testament to that. Combined with watercolor these drawings are colorful treasures.

Since starting as a fulltime artist Nyn has partaken in a number of exhibits. Her work has been shown in several museums. She is active in a number of artist collectives and is half of the artist duo Opposites Create.

Exhibitions

October 2024 – Kerkje Kwadijk – Kunstroute Purmerend

July-August 2024 – Broeker Kerk, Broek in Waterland – Kunst in de kerk

May 2024 – Culemburgse Poort Buren – Art at the Gate

March-May 2024 – Expoost, Hoorn – Different Directions

February-March 2024 – Galerie Anjo de Jong, Buren – Futureland

January-February 2024 – kunstRUIM, Amsterdam – Different Directions

December 2023-Januari 2024 – Kunsthuis Waterland, Purmerend – Klein werk

November 2023-Januari 2024 – Galerie Paterswolde – Visitekaartjes

October-December 2023 – Kunsthuis Waterland, Purmerend – WaterLand

October 2023 – Kerkje Kwadijk – Kunstroute Purmerend

October 2023 – Purmerends Museum, The Netherlands – Group exhibit

September 2023 – Flower Art Museum, Aalsmeer – Nature Art Fair

September 2023 – Purmerends Museum, The Netherlands – Kunst bij de VVV

May 2023 – Galerie Anjo de Jong, Buren – Group exhibit

January-March 2023 – Kunsthuis Waterland, Purmerend – transFORmatie

November 2022 – Broekerkerk, Broek in Waterland – Kunst met een kus

October 2022 – Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Affordable Art Fair

October 2022 – Purmerend – Kunstroute

September-October 2022 – Grote Kerk Monnickendam – Insecten

July-August 2022 – Kapel Overweersepolderdijk, Purmerend – Dieren in de kapel

May 2022 – Markthal, Purmerend – Purmerend Art Fair

March 2022 – Passenger Terminal, Amsterdam – First Art Fair

December 2021-June 2022 – Micksart Collectief, Emmen – Group Exhibit

December 4 2021 – 2B @Modestraat, Amsterdam – Art Market

November 2021-January 2022 – Online solo-exhibit at Van Vliet Gallery – Moon Poems

October 2021-February 2022 – Purmerends Museum – Ode aan het landschap

October 2021 – Kromhouthal, Amsterdam – Affordable Art Fair

October 2021 – Purmerend – Kunstroute

September 2021 – 2B @Modestraat, Amsterdam – Art Market

May-August 2021 – Zandvoorts Museum – Ode aan het landschap

May-June 2021 – De Hallen, Amsterdam – See You At Art

May-June 2021 – OBA de Hallen, Amsterdam – Exhibition

January 2021 – Purmerend – Sterren op het doek

December 2020 – Museumwinkel Purmerends Museum – Etalagekunst

October 2020 – Purmerend – Kunstroute

February 2020 – De Purmaryn, Purmerend – Sterren op het doek

December 2019 – De Balie, Amsterdam – Nasty Women

December 2019 – Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam – EuropArtFair

October / November 2019 – Kromhouthal, Amsterdam – Affordable Art Fair

October 2019 – Purmerend – Kunstroute

September 2019 – Museum Jan Boon, De Rijp – Solo Exhibition The Silent Land

July 2019 – Women Asemic Writers, online exhibition – Summer 2019 Exhibit

April 2019 – Evoluon, Eindhoven – Museum Vakdagen 2019

April 2019 – Women Asemic Writers, online exhibition – Spring 2019 Exhibit

October / November 2018 – Kromhouthal, Amsterdam –Affordable Art Fair

October 2018 – World Fashion Centre, Amsterdam – ADAF

September / October 2018 – Galerie 54, Terneuzen – Fall exhibition

November 2017 – Kromhouthal, Amsterdam – Affordable Art Fair

October 2017 – World Fashion Centre, Amsterdam – ADAF

February 2017 – Wackers Academy of Fine Art, Amsterdam – Let’s Dance

February 2016 – Wackers Academy of Fine Art, Amsterdam – Alumni Exhibition

June 2013 – Bielska Gallery, Bielsko-Biała, Poland – Going back to the roots

May 2012 – De Brakke Grond Cultural Centre, Amsterdam – 1000 Drawings

April 2011 – De Stoker Gallery, Amsterdam – 20 Jaar De Stoker

Publications

Jaarboek kunstenaars 2016 – nu, Stichting Kunstweek

‘Die tekens maakten iets bij me los’, Happinez 8, December 2020

Inner Scription Oracle, Bres Magazine 324 ‘Ontdekkingen’, November 2020

’Wauw!’ voor bijna alle ’Sterren op het doek’, Noordhollands Dagblad, February 2020

Winnaars Sterren op het doek, Regio Purmerend, February 2020

Kunstroute Purmerend, een lust voor het oog, Noordhollands Dagblad, October 2019

Purmerendse kunstenaar Nynke van Zwol in Museum Jan Boon, Purmerends Dagblad, August 2019

Purmerendse Nynke van Zwol in Amerikaans kunstboek, Rodi Nieuws, Januari 2017

Artist Showcase, Artsy Shark, Summer 2018

Strokes of Genius 8, North Light Books, 2016

Education

Fine Art, Wackers Academy of Fine Art Amsterdam, 2015

Speech and Language Pathology, Hogeschool Utrecht, 2005

Linguistics, Leiden University, 1998

Arabic, Leiden University, 1995

Philosophy, Leiden University, 1995