About Bart Nijstad
Bart Nijstad (born in 1979) is an artist, art teacher and illustrator based in the city of Groningen, The Netherlands.
“There is a ‘stream of images’ flowing through my mind, consisting of memories, comic books, movies, paintings and other art forms. Using an automatic drawing process, I try to organise and make sense of that stream of images. Sketches form the basis of my paintings and murals. During a drawing session, I find fragments of my memories appearing on the paper somewhat unintentionally. The communal factor between these memories and subjects is a sense of awkwardness or discomfort. I am drawn to imagery that doesn’t make sense or seems like it shouldn’t even exist. This results in imagery that’s often humorous, absurd and maybe a bit grotesque.”
Education
1999 – 2000 Constantijn Huygens Academie, Kampen (propaedeutic year)
2002 – 2005 bachelor Academie Minerva, Groningen (painting)
2018 – 2020 Master Frank Mohr Institute, Groningen (painting)
Solo Expositions
2022 – Barfdrawings | WEP, Groningen
2020 – Thunder Knights | ZIP, Groningen
2020 – Recover | NP3 Research Gallery, Groningen
2017 – Book launch Artful Thinking | Groninger Museum
2014 – Muggen 2 | Galerie Sign, Groningen
2009 – Muggen | Kunst In Kolderveen (KIK)
Groups exhibitions
2022 – This Art Fair | Amsterdam
2022 – Gallery Maurits Van De Laar | Den Haag
2019 – KINK/Drents Museum, Assen
2019 – Patty Morgan X Tijdgenoten | De School, Amsterdam
2018 – Het Resort S01E01| NNT, Groningen
2017 – Blind Date | Lloyd Hotel, Amsterdam
2017 – Tekenkabinet | Amsterdam
2017 – Galerie Nachtmerrie | Oude Frank Mohr Institute, Groningen
2016 – Torenkamer | Vondel CS, Amsterdam
2016 – Viva Pontiac | Nieuwe Vide, Haarlem
2016 – Dick Tuinder en Bart Nijstad, I presume | Drawing Front, Utrecht
2015 – Dutch Design Week
2015 - Treviso Comic Book Festival | Treviso, Italy
2014 - De Nieuwe Garde | 37PK, Haarlem
2014 - Fumetto Comix Festival | Luzern, Switzerland
2014 - Superdraw! | Galerie Sign, Groningen
2013 - International Comics Festival Boomfest | Saint-Petersburg, Russia
2013 - Over smaak valt te twisten | Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
2012 - Lucca Comics and Games | Lucca, Italy
2012 - Fumetto Comix Festival Luzern, Switzerland
2012 - 'Happy Heal' | Nacht van Kunst en Wetenschap, Usva, Groningen
2011 - Nieuw Strip Talent | Centrum voor Beeldcultuur, Breda
2011 - 'Happy Heal' | Noorderzon Groningen
2011 - Benelux Beeldverhalen Prijs | 37K Haarlem
2011 - Ligatura, International Comics Festival | Poznan, Poland
2011 - Happy Heal | Clash Oosterpoort Groningen
2010 - Werkplaats Clash | CBK Groningen
2009 - NOK, kunst uit Friesland en Groningen | Museum Belvedere, Heerenveen
2006 - Hendrik de Vries Stipendium Expositie | CBK, Groningen
Grants
2021 – Project Fund | Mondriaan Fonds
2012 – First price Ligatura Pitching | Ligatura Poznan, Poland
2012 – Project Fund | Mondriaan Fonds,
2011 – First price International Silent Comic Competition | Ligatura Poznan, Poland
2009 – Project Fund | Mondriaan Fonds
2005 – Hendrik de Vries Stipend
Publications
2018 – present | Illustrator NRC Handelsblad
2016 – Artful Thinking | Groninger Museum
2016 – Begrafenis van de mannen | Lebowski Publishing
2016 – Scratches | Scratch Publishing
2016 – Cosmic/Sci-Fi/Stories Across Space & Time |Tiny Pencil Publishing
2014 – Muggen | Xtra Pulsishing
2014 – Death and Resurrection | Tiny Pencil Publishing
2013 – Komarow | Centrala Publishing (Polish edition of 'Muggen')
2012 – Filmfanfare | Fonds BKVB, Filmfonds, EYE Institute and Oog & Blik Publishing
2010 – Eisner magazine
Commisions
NRC Handelsblad
de Volkskrant
Groninger Museum
Museum Kranenburgh
Het Kröller-Müller Museum
NNT Groningen
CBK Groningen
Mondriaan Fonds
Eye Filmmuseum
Uitgeverij Lebowski
GVB Amsterdam
Teaching
2015 – present | Academie Minerva, Groningen
2018 – present | Bij Vrijdag, Groningen
Advisory committee
2021 – present | Kunstpunt, Groningen
2021 – 2025 | Juror Hendrik de Vries Stipend