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.
Her 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 Nynke has partaken in a number of exhibits. Her work has been shown in several museums and she is a regular exhibitor at the Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam. She is active in several artist collectives and is part of the international group of Women Asemic Writers.
Exhibitions
November 2023 – Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Affordable Art Fair
October 2023 – Purmerend, The Netherlands – Kunstroute
October 2023 – Purmerends Museum, The Netherlands – Group exhibit
September 2023 – Purmerends Museum, The Netherlands – Kunst bij de VVV
May 2023 – Galerie Anjo de Jong – Group exhibit
January-March 2023 – Kunsthuis Waterland – transFORmatie
November 2022 – Broekerkerk, Broek in Waterland – Kunst met een kus
October 2022 – Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Affordable Art Fair
October 2022 – Purmerend, The Netherlands – Kunstroute
September-October 2022 – Grote Kerk Monnickendam, The Netherlands – Insecten
July-August 2022 – Kapel Overweersepolderdijk, Purmerend – Dieren in de kapel
May 2022 – Markthal, Purmerend, The Netherlands – Purmerend Art Fair
March 2022 – Passenger Terminal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – First Art Fair
December 2021-June 2022 – Micksart Collectief, Emmen, The Netherlands – 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, The Netherlands – Ode aan het landschap
October 2021 – Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Affordable Art Fair
October 2021 – Purmerend, The Netherlands – Kunstroute
September 2021 – 2B @Modestraat, Amsterdam – Art Market
May-August 2021 – Zandvoorts Museum – Ode aan het landschap
May-June 2021 – De Hallen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – See You At Art
May-June 2021 – OBA de Hallen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Exhibition
January 2021 – Purmerend, The Netherlands – Sterren op het doek
December 2020 – Museumwinkel Purmerends Museum, The Netherlands – Etalagekunst
October 2020 – Purmerend, The Netherlands – Kunstroute
February 2020 – De Purmaryn, Purmerend, The Netherlands – Sterren op het doek
December 2019 – De Balie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Nasty Women
December 2019 – Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – EuropArtFair
October / November 2019 – Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Affordable Art Fair
October 2019 – Purmerend, The Netherlands – Kunstroute
September 2019 – Museum Jan Boon, De Rijp, The Netherlands – Solo Exhibition The Silent Land
July 2019 – Women Asemic Writers, online exhibition – Summer 2019 Exhibit
April 2019 – Evoluon, Eindhoven, The Netherlands – Museum Vakdagen 2019
April 2019 – Women Asemic Writers, online exhibition – Spring 2019 Exhibit
October / November 2018 – Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands –Affordable Art Fair
October 2018 – World Fashion Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – ADAF
September / October 2018 – Galerie 54, Terneuzen, The Netherlands – Fall exhibition
November 2017 – Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Affordable Art Fair
October 2017 – World Fashion Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – ADAF
February 2017 – Wackers Academy of Fine Art, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Let’s Dance
February 2016 – Wackers Academy of Fine Art, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Alumni Exhibition
June 2013 – Bielska Gallery, Bielsko-Biała, Poland – Going back to the roots
May 2012 – De Brakke Grond Cultural Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 1000 Drawings
April 2011 – De Stoker Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands – 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
NYNKE VAN ZWOL 