ABOUT
* 1977 Born in Duisburg, Germany
1997 - 2002
Studied law at Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany; concentration: constitutional law and European Community Law; degree: 1st state examination and diploma
2002 - 2006
Doctorate (Dr. iur) under Prof. R. Alexander Lorz (Chair of European Law, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Hessian Minister of Culture) with the interdisciplinary, anthropological, philosophical, culturally sociological and European Law dissertation "Kulturraum Europa”
2002 - 2008
Studied visual arts/painting at the Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (Art Academy of Düsseldorf), Germany, under professors Gerhard Merz, Helmut Federle and Herbert Brandl; graduated with a diploma (Academy Diploma) and was appointment master student by Herbert Brandl
2011 - 2013
Studio residence in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, United States
2012
Production staff for ZDF-Studio New York’s documentary "New York für Fortgeschrittene - Bushwick setzt sich in Szene" (“New York for the advanced - Bushwick sets the scene”) in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, United States, together with Susanne Lingemann (ZDF); broadcast on 3sat
2013
Artist talk: Jan Holthoff in conversation with Robin Wilkins (German Consulate General, New York) in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, United States; publication of the interview found on the Consulate General's website: germany.info - German Missions in the United States
2020
Guest lecturer at the seminar "Experimental Painting Techniques" at the Hochschule der bildenden Künste (HbK) Essen (Essen University of Fine Arts), Germany
LECTURE
2015
Guest lecture, "Die existentielle Dimension des künstlerischen Aktes" at the Kunsthochschule Mainz (Mainz Art Academy), Germany
2020
Guest lecture "Malerei zwischen Selbstreferentialität und inhaltlicher Aufladung" at the Hochschule der bildenden Künste (HbK) Essen (Essen University of Fine Arts), Germany
2021
Lecture „Joseph Beuys verorten und in Europa weiterdenken“ as part of the project „Europe in the City“, undertaken by the municipality of the city of Dusseldorf; Dusseldorf city hall, Germany; patron: the prime minister of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia Mr. Armin Laschet
Host and Moderator for the symposium “TNoA - The Nature of Abstraction”, artists: Laura Aberham, Ina Gerken, Sabine Tress, Jan Kolata, Max Frintrop, Becker Schmitz and Jan Holthoff, Kunstwerk Köln, Cologne, Germany; the exhibition/symposium will be accompanied by a book of the same title published by Jan Holthoff at Kerber Verlag
Guest lecture "Rethink Painting – TNoA – The Nature of Abstraction" at the Hochschule der bildenden Künste (HbK) Essen (Essen University of Fine Arts), Germany
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2022
Different Strokes, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
2021
TNoA - The Nature of Abstraction, Ruimte P60 Assen, Netherlands
TNoA - The Nature of Abstraction, Kunstwerk Köln, Cologne, Germany
2017
Restatement (mit Nina Brauhauser), Kunstverein Brackenheim, Germany
2016
Next Visit, Martina Kaiser Cologne Contemporary Art, Cologne, Germany
Restatement (mit Nina Brauhauser), Galerie Schmidt und Schütte, Cologne, Germany
Abstract Strategies, Boeckercontemporary, Heidelberg, Germany
2015
Stream of Consciousness (mit Ted Green), Werft 77, Düsseldorf, Germany
Abstraktionen 1947 – 2015 (mit Galerie Weick), Galerie Weick, Düsseldorf, Germany
Abstract Strategies, Galerie Schütte, Essen, Germany
Abstract Strategies, Martina Kaiser Cologne Contemporary Art, Cologne, Germany
Abstract Strategies, Mirta Demare ruimte voor actuele kunst, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Abstract Strategies, Poiesis Spec, Berlin, Germany
2014
Abstract Strategies, Bespoke, Düsseldorf, Germany
2011
3-day stand (mit Ethan Pettit), Brooklyn Fire Proof, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US
2010
Contemporary Landscapes, Philara Collection, Düsseldorf, Germany
Thomas Woll – IGNIS ortungsraum / systeme, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
Wonkun Jun/Verena Freyschmidt, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
Jan Muche – Das Konstrukt, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
2008
Nina Brauhauser/Andreas Nann, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
Max Böhme - Orizon, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
TRAVELS
Travels, among others, to the United States (Big Island Hawaii, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, California, New York State), Canada, Costa Rica, India, Israel (Tel Aviv-Jaffa/Jerusalem/West Bank), Turkey (Troy/Pergamon), Iceland, Scotland, Norway, Switzerland, Dolomites, Stromboli
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)
2022
Back and Forth II, Holthoff Galerie, Hamburg, Germany
Deconstructed Landscapes, Galerie Ruimte P60, Assen, Netherlands
Electric Paradise, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich, Germany
2020
Painting from Nature, Galerie Weick, Dusseldorf, Germany
Burning down the House - Die Auflösung des Gegenstandes,
Dirk Lehr Collection, Berlin, Germany
2017
Excitement, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich, Germany
Internal Echoes, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
Jan Holthoff, Michael Dekker, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
2016
Back and Forth, Holthoff Mokross Galerie, Hamburg, Germany
Twisted Moment, Galerie Schmidt und Schütte, Cologne, Germany
Intervention und Verortung (with Bruno Kurz), P13 Galerie, Heidelberg, Germany
Parallel zur Natur, Galerie Weick, Dusseldorf, Germany
2015
Shaping the Indeterminacy, Galerie Schütte, Essen, Germany
Vom Möglichen zum Wirklichen, Raumsechs, Dusseldorf, Germany
Traces, Kunstverein Plauen, Plauen, Germany
2014
Shifting Vacuum, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
Flickering, Martina Kaiser Cologne Contemporary Art, Cologne, Germany
Frozen Gestures, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich, Germany
Open Forms, Galerie Weick, Dusseldorf, Germany
As Above...So Below (with Dmitrij Dihovichnij), Bespoke, Dusseldorf, Germany
2013
Wetterhorn Project, Künstlerverein Malkasten, Dusseldorf, Germany
Frozen Gestures, fuchs projects, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US
Mental Spaces, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Cologne, Germany
Subjective Matter, Galerie Börgmann, Mönchengladbach, Germany
Douglas Swan Förderpreis, Museum August Macke Haus, Bonn, Germany
Jan Holthoff with Nina Brauhauser – Bushwick open Studios, Brooklyn Fire Proof, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US
2012
The Chemical Landscape, Ethan Pettit Contemporary, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US
2011
Broken Vistas, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Cologne, Germany
Zwischen Abstraktion und Gegenstand, Kunstverein Aurich, Germany
2010
On a Clear Day, deutsches haus, New York City, US
Stereo, Kulturforum Alte Post (with Kathrin Ahlt), Neuss, Germany
Still it Shines, Galerie Börgmann, Krefeld, Germany
Lost Place, Blue Mountain Gallery, New York City, US
2009
In Dialogue with Structure,
schreier & von metternich fine arts, Dusseldorf, Germany
Beyond the Surface, Galerie Gora, Montreal, Canada
Riding the Snake, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich, Germany
Jan Holthoff, city hall, Dusseldorf, Germany
2008
Jan Holthoff, schreier & von metternich fine arts, Dusseldorf, Germany
Jan Holthoff, Kunstraum Rauchsalon, Vienna, Austria
2007
Jan Holthoff, cubus kunsthalle, Duisburg, Germany
Jan Holthoff, Galerie Pesch, Duisburg, Germany
Jan Holthoff, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)
2022
Like a slight hiccup... – La Grange Gallery, Cernay-Lès-Reims, France
Different Strokes, with Laura Aberham, Peppi Bottrop, Ina Gerken, Jan Holthoff, Winfried Virnich, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
The Drawing Box Pop-Up Show, Inishowen Artist Studio, Trenbane, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal, Ireland
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, Germany
2021
TNoA - The Nature of Abstraction, with Laura Aberham, Ina Gerken, Sabine Tress, Jan Kolata, Max Frintrop, Becker Schmitz, Jan Holthoff, Galerie Ruimte P60, Assen, Netherlands
TNoA - The Nature of Abstraction, with Laura Aberham, Ina Gerken, Sabine Tress, Jan Kolata, Max Frintrop, Becker Schmitz, Jan Holthoff, Kunstwerk, Cologne, Germany
Vor Ort 2021, Stiftung Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, Germany
Symbolism Reloaded, Leo Kuelbs Collection, NYC/Berlin, online
Gisela Krohn, Kim Reuter, Michael Kaul, Florian Thomas, Jan Holthoff, Dante Goods and Bads, Aylin Langreuter, Stephan Kern, Galerie Wittenbrink Fünf Höfe, Munich, Germany
2020
Christian Faul, Jan Holthoff, Florian Thomas, Michael Kaul, Nicola Stäglich, Stephan Kern, Galerie Wittenbrink Fünf Höfe, Munich, Germany
Stay Home, Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, Krefeld, Germany
Neue Wilde und andere aus der Sammlung Stefan Neukirchen, with Herbert Brandl, Rainer Fetting, Jan Holthoff, Ruprecht von Kaufmann, Markus Lüpertz, Cornelia Schleime, Bernd Zimmer, Kunstverein Münsterland, Coesfeld, Germany
Outsides, Dirk Lehr Collection/Kuelbs Projects, NYC/Berlin, online
Me, Myself and I, Dirk Lehr Collection/Kuelbs Projects, NYC/Berlin, online
Heartwork, Christie’s Benefizauktion, Aidshilfe Düsseldorf, online
2019
Arbeiten aus der Dirk Lehr Collection, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
Jan Holthoff, Sebastian Dannenberg, Georg Schmidt, Verein für aktuelle Kunst, Oberhausen, Germany
10+10=20, Galerie Meno Parkas, Kaunas, Lithuania
Greetings from the Edge, with Jan Holthoff, Robert Rauschenberg, Miriam Vlaming, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
2018
Signs, Creatures and Forms in the conceptual expressive abstraction, with Jan Holthoff, Jana Schröder, Ambacher Contemporary, Munich, Germany
Beyond Nature, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
Vintage Youth, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
2017
Entre Nous, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
Fiction, Class Room, Coventry, UK
Restatement, Kunstverein Brackenheim, Germany
Fiction, Apothecary Gallery Chattanooga, Tennessee, US
Anderland, with Birgit Jensen, Jan Holthoff, Nina Brauhauser, Frauke Dannert, Benjamin Nachtwey, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
2016
Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Museum Kunstpalast, Dusseldorf, Germany
Condensation, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
Gallery Artists, Ethan Pettit Contemporary, Brooklyn, NY, US
Abstract Strategies, Boeckercontemporary, Heidelberg, Germany
Next Visit, Martina Kaiser Cologne Contemporary Art, Cologne, Germany
Fiction, Grady Gallery, Elgin Community College, Chicago, US
Spring Salon, ethan pettit gallery, Brooklyn, NY, US
Restatement, with Paul Behnke, Isabelle Borges, Richard Caldicott, Jose Heerkens, Jan Holthoff, Dorothee Joachim, Pier Wright, Galerie Schmidt und Schütte, Cologne, Germany
service compris, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
Fiction, Corridor Projects, Dayton, US
#1, Haus der Kunst, Palermo, Italy
Fiction, Boeckercontemporary, Heidelberg, Germany
Fiction, Angelika Studios, High Wycombe, UK
2015
Abstract Strategies, Galerie Schütte, Essen, Germany
Green City – Geformte Landschaft – Vernetzte Natur, with Jan Holthoff, Peter Brüning, Mischa Kuball, Maik und Dirk Löbbert, Tobias Rehberger, Richard Serra, Museum Ludwiggalerie, Oberhausen, Germany
Abstraktionen 1947 - 2015, with Peter Brüning, Fathwinter, Winfred Gaul, Gerhard Hoehme, Jan Holthoff, Fred Thieler, Herbert Zangs, Galerie Weick, Dusseldorf, Germany
Stream of Consciousness, with Jan Holthoff, Roman Lang, Katharina Maderthaner, Claudia Mann, Kai Richter, Daniel Schubert, Werft 77, Dusseldorf, Germany
Abstract Strategies, Martina Kaiser Cologne
Contemporary Art, Cologne, Germany
Peng, Kunstverein Wolfenbüttel, Wolfenbüttel, Germany
Abstract Strategies, Poiesis Spec, Berlin, Germany
Abstract Strategies, with Steven Baris, Karl Bielik, Jan Holthoff, Yury Kharchenko, Nico Mares, Barbara Friedman, David Rich, Sabine Tress, Stefan Becker-Schmitz, Nicola Stäglich, Julie Torres, Pier Wright, Mirta Demare ruimte voor actuele kunst, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Interaktiv, Galerie Schütte, Essen, Germany
Voyage Mezzanine, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Dusseldorf, Germany
Paper Works #003, with Antoni Tàpies, Jan Holthoff, Joseph Beuys, Martin Kippenberger, Holthoff Mokross Galerie, Hamburg, Germany
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, Germany
Sotheby’s charity auction, Semperdepot, Vienna, Austria
2014
One million traces, with Benjamin Nachtwey, Jan Holthoff, Miriam Vlaming, Andreas Gefeller, Glen Rubsamen, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
The New Dutch Masters, Lisa Norris Gallery, London, UK
Off the Wall, Terrace Studios & Gallery, London, UK
Full House, Studio Rich, St Paul, US
Full House, Ethan Pettit Contemporary, Brooklyn, NY, US
Abstract Strategies, Bespoke, Dusseldorf, Germany
Künstler der Galerie , Martina Kaiser
Cologne Contemporary Art, Cologne,Germany
Restatement, Galerie Schütte, Essen, Germany
Alles auf Anfang, Kunsthaus Haven, Oberhausen, Germany
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, Germany
2013
Actualities, von fraunberg art gallery, Dusseldorf, Germany
Light Space Projects, Junkyard Art Bar, Phayao, Thailand
Now you see it, now you don’t, Terrace Studios & Gallery, London, UK
Continent 2000, Galerie Lethert, Bad Münstereifel, Germany
Light Space Projects – Rituals of Exhibition II, H Gallery, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Reference to History, Kesselhaus, Essen, Germany
Shape the Scape, Widmer+Theodoridis contemporary, Zurich, Switzerland
Shape the Scape, Gilla Lörcher Contemporary Art, Berlin, Germany
D. 6/6 Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Palermo, Italy
Die Polarität – Spielräume der Positionierung zeitgenössischer Malerei, Hansa 9, Neuss, Germany
artMRKT Hamptons, Bridgehampton, US
Karte und Gebiet, Malerei und Skulptur der Gegenwart, with Sven Drühl, Jan Holthoff, Cornelius Völker, WIMMERplus, Prien am Chiemsee, Germany
2012
Gästeliste, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Cologne, Germany
Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Museum Kunstpalast, Dusseldorf, Germany
Inaugural Show, Ethan Pettit Contemporary, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US
Continent 2000, Kunst im Hafen e.V., Dusseldorf, Germany
Wackadoodle, Ethan Pettit Contemporary, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US
Intervall 01, Galerie Börgmann, Krefeld, Germany
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, Germany
2011
Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Museum Kunstpalast, Dusseldorf, Germany
Landschaft als Topos zeitgenössischer Kunst II,
schreier & von metternich fine arts, Dusseldorf, Germany
3-day stand, Brooklyn Fire Proof, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US
Sommer, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich, Germany
5 x 3, NKR Neuer Kunstraum Düsseldorf, Germany
Raum – Spur – Vorstellung, Kunstverein Ibbenbüren, Germany
land schaffen, Schloss Benrath, Dusseldorf, Germany
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, Germany
2010
Landschaft als Topos zeitgenössischer Kunst,
schreier & von metternich fine arts, Dusseldorf, Germany
Contemporary Landscapes, Philara Collection, Dusseldorf, Germany
Highlights zur Kulturhauptstadt, kunst-raum schulte-goltz + noelte, Essen, Germany
Crefelder Gesellschaft für Venezianische Malerei, with Thomas Arnolds, Georg Baselitz, André Butzer, Günther Förg, Jan Holthoff, Jonathan Meese, Jan Muche, Philipp Schwalb, curated by Christian Malycha, Galerie Börgmann, Krefeld, Germany
2009
Aktualität und Prozess, Stiftung Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, Germany
Sie werden Sie beobachten, Galerie Börgmann, Krefeld, Germany
Exposition Collective, Galerie Gora, Montreal, Canada
Time Machine, Kunstverein Arnsberg, Germany
Kunst und Alltag, Kulturbunker, Cologne, Germany
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, Germany
2008
high society, schreier & von metternich fine arts, Dusseldorf, Germany
Liaison Controverse, Philara Collection, Dusseldorf, Germany
Liaison Controverse, Kulturbunker, Cologne, Germany
das tier, schreier & von metternich fine arts, Dusseldorf, Germany
Entwürfe für ein Museum für Kunsthütten, -häuser, -paläste, -tempel und –raumschiffe, Künstlerverein Malkasten, Dusseldorf, Germany
2007
50 Künstler auf einer Linie, Schloss Benrath, Dusseldorf, Germany
Honey, Honey, Venusteich, Künstlerverein Malkasten, Dusseldorf, Germany
2004
10 x Düsseldorf – 10 students of Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Raum für Film, Kunst und Kommunikation, Cologne, Germany
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Philara Collection, Dusseldorf, Germany
Sammlung Dr. Stefan Neukirchen, Bochum, Germany
Sammlung der Kunstmuseen Krefeld, Germany
Staatliches Museum Buca-Tivat, Montenegro
Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Palermo, Italy
Dirk Lehr Collection, Berlin, Germany
Sammlung Schütte, Essen, Germany
AWARDS
2013
Douglas Swan Art Award, Museum August Macke Haus, Bonn, Germany (Laudation: Dr. Hans M. Schmidt)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
MONOGRAPHIES
2022
Galerie Holthoff: Jan Holthoff – Back and Forth II, Hamburg, Germany (Text: Thomas Holthoff)
2016
Kunstforum International: Jan Holthoff – Die existentielle Dimension des künstlerischen Aktes, Cologne, Germany (Text: Dr. Emmanuel Mir and Jan Holthoff)
Galerie Schmidt und Schütte: Jan Holthoff – Twisted Moment, Cologne, Germany (Text: Dr. Emmanuel Mir)
2015
RaumSechs: Jan Holthoff - Vom Möglichen zum Wirklichen, Dusseldorf, Germany (Text: Ralph Güth)
2014
Galerie Wittenbrink: Jan Holthoff - Frozen Gestures, Munich, Germany (Text: William Helfrecht)
2013
fuchs projects: Jan Holthoff - Frozen Gestures, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US (Text: William Helfrecht)
2012
ethan pettit contemporary: Jan Holthoff – The Chemical Landscape, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US (Text: Ethan Pettit)
2011
Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst: Jan Holthoff – Broken Vistas, Cologne, Germany (Text: Michael Voets)
2010
Galerie Börgmann: Jan Holthoff - Still it Shines, Krefeld, Germany
(Text: Beate Kolodziej)
2009
Galerie Wittenbrink: Jan Holthoff, Munich, Germany (Text: Dr. Heike Endter)
2008
Schreier & von Metternich fine arts: Jan Holthoff, Dusseldorf, Germany (Text: Dr. Susanne Höper-Kuhn, Oskar Fahr)
GROUP EXHIBITION CATALOGS
2022
La Grange Gallery: Like a slight hiccup..., Cernay-Lès-Reims, France (Text: participating artists)
2021
Jan Holthoff (Kerber Verlag): TNoA - The Nature of Abstraction, Berlin, Germany (Text: Jan Holthoff)
Stiftung Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum: Vor Ort 2021, Duisburg, Germany (Text: Jörg Mascherrek)
2020
Kunstverein Münsterland: Neue Wilde und andere aus der Sammlung Stefan Neukirchen, Coesfeld, Germany (Text: Dr. Stefan Neukirchen und Jutta Meyer zu Riemsloh, M.A.)
2016
Museum Kunstpalast: Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Dusseldorf, Germany (Text: Michael Kortländer, Beat Wismer)
2015
Ludwiggalerie (Kerber Verlag): Green City – Geformte Landschaft – Vernetzte Natur, Oberhausen/Bielefeld, Germany (Text: Minister Johannes Remmel, Klaus Wehling, Christiane Brox, Nina Dunkmann, Gesine Emmerich, Achim Prossek, Christine Vogt; Kyra Schnurbusch)
Kunstverein Wolfenbüttel: Peng, Wolfenbüttel, Germany (Text: participating artists)
2013
Kit Schulte Contemporary, Berlin, Germany; Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Cologne, Germany; Widmer+Theodoridis Contemporary, Zurich, Switzerland; Gilla Lörcher Contemporary Art, Berlin, Germany; Galerie Ulrich Mueller, Cologne, Germany: Shape the Scape, Berlin, Germany (Text: participating artists)
2012
Museum Kunstpalast: Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Dusseldorf, Germany (Text: Michael Kortländer, Beat Wismer)
2011
Kunstraum Düsseldorf: 5 x 3, Dusseldorf, Germany (Text: Michael Voets)
Museum Kunstpalast: Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Dusseldorf, Germany (Text: Michael Kortländer, Oliver Keymis)
2010
Galerie Börgmann: Crefelder Gesellschaft für Venezianische Malerei, Krefeld, Germany (Text: Christian Malycha)
2009
Galerie Börgmann: Sie werden Sie beobachten, Krefeld, Germany
(Text: Matthias Erntges)
Stiftung Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum: Aktualität und Prozess, Duisburg, Germany (Text: Katharina Barbara Lepper)