Kees te Kolsté

His fascination with art began early, nurtured by frequent visits to museums where he first encountered Zen aesthetics. This formative experience ignited a lifelong dedication not only to art but also to martial arts. Over the years he has practiced disciplines such as judo, karate, iaido, kendo, kyudo, tai-ki-ken and, most recently, pakua. These practices, defined by discipline, repetition and spiritual focus, form the foundation of his artistic process. For te Kolsté, mastery arises as much from surrender as from control.

Working across both abstract and figurative expressionism, te Kolsté draws inspiration from artists including Cy Twombly, René Magritte and Willem de Kooning. Yet the essence of his practice is deeply inward. Guided by visualization techniques rooted in Tibetan Buddhism, he often enters a trance-like state in the studio, allowing images to emerge organically from within rather than from external reference.

The result is a body of work that reveals an inner world in constant transformation—an oeuvre that invites us to pause, reflect, and recognize in his canvases a mirror of our own capacity for introspection.

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An Ode to Kees te Kolsté

by Piet Boon

From my earliest years I have admired the work of Kees te Kolsté. I would leaf through his books, feel inspired, and visit his studio hoping to find a particular piece still available. More often than not, it was already too late. Kees had painted over it, forever searching for refinement, for a truer form. This pursuit of perfection was never confined to a single work but defined his entire practice, a relentless rhythm of creation and renewal.

His art is timeless and unmistakable, stripped of excess, distilled to purity in form and color. It carries the strength of discipline and the grace of restraint. I am delighted that this solo exhibition finally offers him the recognition he so rightfully deserves.

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