Bio
Frans van Hoek (1995, ZA/NL) (he/him) is an artist based in The Hague, NL. Growing up in South Africa’s Karoo desert where fossils and telecom towers coexist casually, his practice explores the world by layering multiple temporal lenses. With a background in physics and clinical psychology, Frans attempts to integrate these forces through sculpture and intervention. Bridging the macro-flows of science, history and politics with the micro-flows of poetic everyday moments. Through humour, interaction, and contradicting materials his works invite the viewer along in search of a synthesis, some sparkling alignment shimmering through.
Recently, he has enjoyed taking viewers out of the gallery space and into nature itself - self-help kite flying lessons, a rural camera obscura cinema on the border of Estonia and Russia, watching the glimmers on the water seperating the two, or a marathon through the hills of van Gogh towards his mental asylum. He believes that by experiencing natural forces directly, together, we come to understand the mechanics that govern our bodies, communities, and world.
education
2019 - 2024 BFA Fine Art. Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, NL
2023 Erasmus, InSitu (Site-Specific). Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp, BE.
2014-2018 BA Clinical Psychology. Brown University, Providence, USA.
2014 BSc Physics. University of Cape Town, ZA
residencies
2024 Het Resort Midseason, Groningen, NL
2024 Ores Residency, Oro, FI
2023 NART Venice Embassy Residency, Narva, EE
2023 Ponte d’Arte, Ponte da Mucela, PT
programs
2024 Kunstpodium T, Master/Apprentice Program, Tilburg, NL
2024 Cacaofabriek, Fresh Cacao Talent Program, Helmond, NL
2023 INCO, Social Entrepreneurship Incubator Program, NL
group exhibitions
2025
“Appeltje, eitje”, Museum Westerwolde, Bellingwolde, NL (upcoming)
“Post Pollution”, Vriend van Bavink Gallery, Amsterdam, NL (upcoming)
“Post Ludens”, TROEF, Leiden, NL
“BIG ART”, Het Slotervaart, Amsterdam, NL
“Remnants II”, T Space, Antwerp, BE
“A Summer Away”, Het Resort, Groningen, NL
“POWERPOLYP”, Kunstpodium T, Tilburg, NL
“Stigter van Doesburg & Martin van Zomeren”, ArtIsland, IJmuiden, NL.
“Please RSVP”, the_servers, The Hague, NL
“Carts Before Horses”, Stigter van Doesburg, Amsterdam, NL
“Fresh Cacao”, Cacaofabriek, Helmond, NL
2024
“Between the Lanes”, Het Resort, Groningen, NL
“De Wasstraat”, NAP+ Art Fair, Amsterdam, NL
“In The Meantime,”, Kiekencentrale, Antwerp, BE
“Graduation Show 2024”, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, NL
“Meander”, Billytown, The Hague, NL
“Frans van Hoek & Sigrid Spierenburg”, Maldoror Gallery, The Hague, NL
2023
“Yes Chance”, KASK, Antwerp, BE
“Nothing happens until you make it happen”, NART, Narva, EE
“I Still Care”, Eurocenter Zuidas, Amsterdam, NL
“Everything That Grows Underground”, WEST, The Hague, NL
“Grenzenloos”, Galerie Windows 47, Haarlem, NL
“Hortus Conclusus”, KASK Wintergarden, Antwerp, BE
2022
“But s/he endorsed the sheen”, Vrij Paleis, Amsterdam, NL
“(Post)human Imaginaries”, National Archive, The Hague, NL
“An Idle Escape”, NEST, The Hague, NL
“Mmmmmmmarshmallow Cube”, Exhibition Research Lab, The Hague, NL