CHRONOLOGY
Jan Holthoff was born in 1977 in Duisburg, Germany, where he lived until the end of his school years in 1996.
1997
Holthoff moved to Düsseldorf, Germany
1997 - 2001
Holthoff studied law at Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany; degree: 1st state examination and diploma
2002 - 2006
Doctorate (Dr. iur) , Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany, with the interdisciplinary: philosophical, sociological and European Law dissertation Kulturraum Europa. Editors among others Prof. Peter Lynen, former Chancellor of the Düsseldorf State Academy of Art (Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf), Germany; published by: Nomos Verlag, Baden-Baden, Germany; Dike Verlag, Zürich, Switzerland; Facultas, Vienna, Austria
2004 - 2006
Holthoff worked as a research assistant in the field of culture for the N.U.R.E.C.-Institute Duisburg e.V., Germany
2002 - 2008
Studied visual arts/painting at the Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf State Academy of Art), 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, US. The residence marked a turning point in Holthoff's artistic work. The paintings changed into a pure gestural processual approach, realistic implications disappeared completely
2012
Collaboration on the documentary New York für Fortgeschrittene - Bushwick setzt sich in Szene by ZDF-Studio New York in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US, together with Susanne Lingemann (ZDF), broadcast on 3Sat, Germany
2013
Holthoff was awarded the Douglas Swan Kunstförderpreis (Art Prize), which was presented at the Museum August Macke Haus in Bonn, Germany (Laudation: Hans M. Schmidt)
2016
A conversation between Emmanuel Mir and Jan Holthoff on the Existential Dimension of the Artistic Act was published in Kunstforum International, Volume 240, Germany
2020
Holthoff's final work Überschwemmtes Land from 2007, which is in a private collection and was created in the Brandl class, was shown at the Kunstverein Münsterland in Coesfeld, as part of the collection presentation entitled Neue Wilde und andere together with works by Herbert Brandl, Rainer Fetting, Markus Lüpertz, Bernd Zimmer
2023 - 2024
Holthoff took on a teaching assignment at Hochschule der Bildenden Künste (HBK) Essen (Essen University of Fine Arts), Germany
Holthoff's wide-ranging interest in cultural contexts and sublime landscapes leads to regular travels among others to the ancient cities of Troy/Pergamon and Knossos, Florence, India, Israel, Marrakesh, Iceland, Lofoten, Scotland, Switzerland, the Dolomites, Sicily/Stromboli, Costa Rica, Hispaniola, Canada, South-West United States, Hawaii, Kenya, Southern France
Holthoff lives and works in Düsseldorf and Ratingen, Germany
LECTURES
2024
Warum male ich (noch)?, Merkenicher KunstRaum, Cologne, Germany
2021
Rethink Painting, Hochschule der bildenden Künste (HbK) Essen (Essen University of Fine Arts), Germany
TNoA - The Nature of Abstraction, KunstWerk Cologne, Germany, on the occasion of the art show TNoA – The Nature of Abstraction, an exhibition and book project (with Kerber books) by Jan Holthoff
Joseph Beuys verorten und in Europa weiterdenken, Rathaus der Stadt Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf city hall), Germany, as part of the project Europe in the City; the lecture is also an official contribution of Beuys year 2021 - patron: the prime minister of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia Mr. Armin Laschet
2020
Malerei zwischen Selbstreferentialität und inhaltlicher Aufladung, Hochschule der bildenden Künste (HbK) Essen (Essen University of Fine Arts), Germany
2015
Die existentielle Dimension des künstlerischen Aktes, Kunsthochschule Mainz (Mainz Art Academy), Germany
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)
2026
Space Poetry, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich, Germany
Abstract Arguments, Altes Dampfbad, Baden-Baden, Germany
2025
Space Poetry, Kulturkirche Liebfrauen, Duisburg
2024
For No Reason at All (with Evangelos Papadopoulos), Kunstverein Bochum, Bochum, Germany
2022
Deconstructed Landscapes, Galerie Ruimte P60, Assen, The Netherlands
Electric Paradise, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich, Germany
Back and Forth II, Holthoff Galerie, Hamburg, Germany
2020
Painting from Nature, Galerie Weick, Düsseldorf, Germany
Burning down the House, 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, P13 Galerie, Heidelberg, Germany
Parallel zur Natur, Galerie Weick, Düsseldorf, Germany
2015
Shaping the Indeterminacy, Galerie Schütte, Essen, Germany
Vom Möglichen zum Wirklichen, Raumsechs, Düsseldorf, 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, Düsseldorf, Germany
2013
Wetterhorn Project, Künstlerverein Malkasten, Düsseldorf, Germany
Frozen Gestures, fuchs projects, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US
Mental Spaces, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Cologne, Germany
Subjective Matter, Galerie Börgmann, Mönchengladbach, Germany
Douglas Swan Kunstförderpreis, Museum August Macke Haus, Bonn, Germany
Jan Holthoff and Nina Brauhauser, 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, Düsseldorf, Germany
Beyond the Surface, Galerie Gora, Montreal, Canada
Riding the Snake, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich, Germany
Jan Holthoff, Rathaus der Stadt Düsseldorf, Germany
2008
Jan Holthoff, schreier & von metternich fine arts, Düsseldorf, 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)
2026
Linie Fläche Raum - 100 Jahre Museum Ratingen, Museum Ratingen, Germany
2025
Shaped Colour, Kunstraum Walzwerk Null, Düsseldorf, Germany
3yy + hundert, Kunstverein Neuhausen, Neuhausen, Germany
2024
Everyone but Caspar, Kunsthalle Niendorf, Hamburg, Germany
3yy, Mongolian Arts Council, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Jan Holthoff, Georg Schmidt, Michael Jäger, Merkenicher KunstRaum, Cologne, Germany
Sommerfrische, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich, Germany
2023
Abstract Narratives, Kunst & Denker Contemporary, Düsseldorf, Germany
KunstRAI, Galerie Ruimte P60, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Gallery Artists, Galerie Wittenbrink Fünf Höfe, Munich, Germany
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany
2022
Comme un léger contretemps,La Grange Gallery, Cernay-Lès-Reims, France
Different Strokes, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
POSITIONS Berlin Art Fair, Berlin, Germany
The Drawing Box Pop-Up Show, Onkaf Gallery, New Delhi, India
The Drawing Box Pop-Up Show, Diablo Valley College, Library Gallery, Pleasant Hill, US
Gallery Artists, Galerie Wittenbrink Fünf Höfe, Munich, Germany
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany
2021
TNoA - The Nature of Abstraction, Galerie Ruimte P60, Assen, The Netherlands
TNoA - The Nature of Abstraction, Kunstwerk, Cologne, Germany
Vor Ort 2021, Stiftung Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, Germany
Symbolism Reloaded, Leo Kuelbs Collection, New York City, US
Gallery Artists, Galerie Wittenbrink Fünf Höfe, Munich, Germany
2020
Stay Home, Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, Krefeld, Germany
Neue Wilde und andere aus der Sammlung Stefan Neukirchen, Kunstverein Münsterland, Coesfeld, Germany
Outsides, Dirk Lehr Collection / Kuelbs Projects, New York City / Berlin, US / Germany
Me, Myself and I, Dirk Lehr Collection / Kuelbs Projects, New York City / Berlin, US / Germany
Gallery Artists, Galerie Wittenbrink Fünf Höfe, Munich, Germany
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany
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, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
2018
Signs, Creatures and Forms in the conceptual expressive abstraction, 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, Kunstverein Duisburg, Germany
2016
Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf, 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 Contemporary, Brooklyn, NY, US
Restatement, 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, Museum Ludwiggalerie, Oberhausen, Germany
Abstraktionen 1947 - 2015, Galerie Weick, Düsseldorf, Germany
Stream of Consciousness, Werft 77, Düsseldorf, Germany
Abstract Strategies, Martina Kaiser Cologne Contemporary Art, Cologne, Germany
Peng, Kunstverein Wolfenbüttel, Wolfenbüttel, Germany
Abstract Strategies, Poiesis Spec, Berlin, Germany
Abstract Strategies, Mirta Demare ruimte voor actuele kunst, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Interaktiv, Galerie Schütte, Essen, Germany
Voyage Mezzanine, Galerie Clara Maria Sels, Düsseldorf, Germany
Paper Works #003, Holthoff Mokross Galerie, Hamburg, Germany
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany
Sotheby’s charity auction, Semperdepot, Vienna, Austria
2014
One million traces, 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, Kunstraum Bespoke, Düsseldorf, Germany
Restatement, Galerie Schütte, Essen, Germany
Alles auf Anfang, Kunsthaus Haven, Oberhausen, Germany
As Above...So Below, Kunstraum Bespoke, Düsseldorf, Germany
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany
2013
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, Zürich, 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
Actualities, von fraunberg gallery, Düsseldorf, Germany
Karte und Gebiet, Malerei und Skulptur der Gegenwart, WIMMERplus, Prien am Chiemsee, Germany
2012
Gästeliste, Lehr Zeitgenössische Kunst, Cologne, Germany
Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf, Germany
Inaugural Show, Ethan Pettit Contemporary, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US
Continent 2000, Kunst im Hafen e.V., Düsseldorf, 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, Düsseldorf, Germany
2011
Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf, Germany
Landschaft als Topos zeitgenössischer Kunst II, schreier & von metternich fine arts, Düsseldorf, Germany
3-day stand, Brooklyn Fire Proof, Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY, US
3-day stand, Atelierhaus Walzwerkstrasse, Düsseldorf, Germany
Sommer, Galerie Wittenbrink, Munich, Germany
5 x 3, NKR Neuer Kunstraum Düsseldorf, Germany
Raum – Spur – Vorstellung, Kunstverein Ibbenbüren, Germany
land schaffen, Schloss Benrath, Düsseldorf, Germany
Heartwork, Christie’s charity auction, K 21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany
2010
Landschaft als Topos zeitgenössischer Kunst, schreier & von metternich fine arts, Düsseldorf, Germany
Contemporary Landscapes, Philara Collection, Düsseldorf, Germany
Highlights zur Kulturhauptstadt, kunst-raum schulte-goltz + noelte, Essen, Germany
Crefelder Gesellschaft für Venezianische Malerei, curated by Christian Malycha, Galerie Börgmann, Krefeld, Germany
Das kleine Format, Künstlerverein Malkasten, Düsseldorf, 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, Düsseldorf, Germany
2008
high society, schreier & von metternich fine arts, Düsseldorf, Germany
Liaison Controverse, Philara Collection, Düsseldorf, Germany
Liaison Controverse, Kulturbunker, Cologne, Germany
das tier, schreier & von metternich fine arts, Düsseldorf, Germany
Entwürfe für ein Museum für Kunsthütten, -häuser, -paläste, -tempel und –raumschiffe, Künstlerverein Malkasten, Düsseldorf, Germany
2007
50 Künstler auf einer Linie, Schloss Benrath, Düsseldorf, Germany
Honey, Honey, Venusteich, Künstlerverein Malkasten, Düsseldorf, Germany
2004
10 x Düsseldorf – 10 students of Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Raum für Film, Kunst und Kommunikation, Cologne, Germany
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS (Selection)
Sammlung der Kunstmuseen Krefeld, Germany
Staatliches Museum Buca-Tivat, Montenegro
Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Palermo, Italy
Philara Collection, Dusseldorf, Germany
Dirk Lehr Collection, Berlin, Germany
Sammlung Stefan Neukirchen, Bochum/Münsterland, Germany
BIBLIOGRAPHY (SELECTION)
MONOGRAPHIES
2024
Kunstverein Bochum: Jan Holthoff (with Evangelos Papadopoulos) - For No Reason at All, Bochum, Germany (Text: Reinhard Buskies)
2022
Galerie Holthoff: Jan Holthoff - Back and Forth II, Hamburg, Germany (Text: Thomas Holthoff)
2016
Kunstforum International: Emmanuel Mir in conversation with Jan Holthoff - Die existentielle Dimension des künstlerischen Aktes, Bd. 240 Juni – Juli, page 192 - 201, Cologne, Germany
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)
2009
Galerie Wittenbrink: Jan Holthoff, Munich, Germany (Text: Heike Endter)
2008
Schreier & von Metternich fine arts: Jan Holthoff, Düsseldorf, Germany (Text: Susanne Höper-Kuhn)
GROUP EXHIBITION CATALOGS
2022
La Grange Gallery: Comme un léger contretemps, Cernay-Lès-Reims, France (Text: Ludovic Dervillez)
2021
Jan Holthoff (Kerber Verlag): TNoA - The Nature of Abstraction, Bielefeld, 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: Stefan Neukirchen und Jutta Meyer zu Riemsloh)
2016
Museum Kunstpalast: Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Düsseldorf, Germany (Text: Michael Kortländer, Beat Wismer)
2015
Ludwiggalerie (Kerber Verlag): Green City – Geformte Landschaft – Vernetzte Natur, 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, Zürich, 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, Düsseldorf, Germany (Text: Michael Kortländer, Beat Wismer)
2011
Kunstraum Düsseldorf: 5 x 3, Düsseldorf, Germany (Text: Michael Voets)
Museum Kunstpalast: Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Düsseldorf, 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)
