BASTIAAN WOUDT
Bastiaan Woudt I Dots I 135x180cm Framed I Edition of 3 I Courtesy WILLAS contemporary I Enquire
BASTIAAN WOUDT
— Monochromatic minimalism; a contemporary twist to classic photography
We are thrilled to introduce Bastiaan Woudt (1987, NL) and welcome you to his first solo exhibition in the Nordic countries!
The exhibition lasts until the 20th of April - our opening hours are 9-17.00 Monday till Friday at WILLAS contemporary — IVAR - Tändstickspalatset - Våstra Trådgårdsgatan 15 - Stockholm.
Over a time span of more than a decade, fine-art photographer Bastiaan Woudt (1987) has carved out a multifaceted career path—alongside an unmistakable aesthetic signature. Woudt is celebrated for his evocative use of monochromatic tones, silhouettes and shadow play that seep into ethereal visuals. Whether intimate portraits or long-stretching landscapes, he maintains a minimalist approach throughout.
Woudt’s influence in the art world is palpable; his works have been exhibited at leading fairs such as Paris Photo, AIPAD and Photo London. He is represented by galleries in Amsterdam, Zurich, London, Los Angeles and Atlanta—next to a solo show at the prestigious New York auction house Phillips. His commissions by acclaimed titles like Harper's Bazaar, British Vogue, Numéro Netherlands, L'Officiel and New York Magazine, coupled with his commercial projects for Chanel, further underline his artistic flair and desirability. Spurred by an entrepreneurial side, Woudt founded 1605 Collective: a platform and imprint showcasing like-minded artists—both established and emerging—through books, an annual magazine and an online space. By way of portfolio highlights, curated edits and insights, he shares his ever-expanding visual universe while nurturing talent.
Purpose and self-discovery are crucial facets of Woudt’s practice, who finds inspiration in both. His commitment to philanthropy shines through in efforts for the Marie-Stella-Maris Foundation, Amsterdam Dinner Foundation and Orange Babies—which helped support drinking water projects in the Ugandan countryside and raise substantial funds to combat HIV and AIDS. In a quest to broaden his creative horizon, Woudt explores the potential of psychedelics and artificial intelligence, expanding the scope of his artistic expression.
MEANWHILE - AT PHILLIPS IN NEW YORK
Phillips X presents BASTIAAN WOUDT: ESSENCE, a selling exhibition dedicated to the bold aesthetic of the contemporary Dutch artist. Comprising 13 last-in-edition works that are among his most sought-after images, this event marks Woudt’s first exhibition in New York, a testament to his undeniable resonance in the international art sphere. All the works on offer are the last-available prints from the edition of 10 plus two artist’s proofs. Furthermore, eight of the works are no longer available in the other sizes and edition, making this a unique opportunity to acquire these exceptional images.
Phillips successfully debuted Bastiaan Woudt at auction via ULTIMATE as a highlight of the London Photographs sale in 2019 and has since then achieved a sell-through rate of 100% for his XL edition works, establishing his world auction record of £60,480 in 2021. Woudt has published 10 photobooks to date, most notably his 2021 monograph Rhythm, featuring 11 images in the exhibition. In 2022, his first solo museum show Twist was held at Museum Kranenburgh in Bergen, including Eclipse and Tinotenda III offered here. In the same year, the J. Paul Getty Museum acquired another print of Cycle II for their permanent collection.
(Text by PHILLIPS)
“«My inspiration comes from many forms of art, but in particular, the old masters of photography like Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Man Ray, Bill Brandt, all amazing minds. They nailed what it takes to make an interesting image: Dynamics, movement, imperfection, feeling. Besides photography, there are many more ways I get inspired. Paintings, the way the Dutch masters saw the light is extraordinary. I believe that in art photography, you have to create a little dream world: a unique insight into the photographer’s mind. Black and white help to differentiate from reality. I find that color is too distracting.»
Bastiaan Woudt”