Emerging Artists Presented by AVROTROS

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Culture connects us. The diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives of young creatives play a pivotal role in this connection. At Affordable Art Fair, we’ve always been passionate about discovering and supporting emerging artists as they make their mark on the contemporary art scene. AVROTROS is dedicated to championing these talented individuals in its mission to promote cultural diversity, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that a wider range of voices and stories are shared. At its inaugural participation in 2023, AVROTROS showcased three emerging artists: Nikè Marchand, Niels Egidius and Sjahrzad Khodadadeh.

Building on this success, AVROTROS will participate for the second year in a row, presenting three new talents based in the Netherlands. These artists continue to offer fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to art.

KRIS VAN GENDT

Kris van Gendt (Eindhoven, 1997) is an artist who combines poetry and symbolism in her ceramic work. Each creation offers a glimpse into a personal diary, using symbols from her own poetry.

In addition to ceramics, Kris delves into graphic collage prints, collecting images from forgotten sections of books, magazines and vintage photographs, ensuring that these elements are not lost to time.

SAM HERSBACH

Sam Hersbach (Arnhem, 1995) is an artist who draws inspiration from the world around us. He combines seemingly unrelated elements to create unique works of art. His work often features a mix of themes and images, such as drones bought by the Dutch government, fantastical painterly mountains, submarines, giant (alien) butterflies, self-portraits and historical figures.

Sam’s art often pays homage to people or concepts, such as his tributes to the painter and mother Cornelia Lamme-Scheffer, as well as to health workers and hospital cleaners. His drone paintings depict unmanned aerial vehicles in menacing positions, while his butterfly series offers a more fantastical perspective. His work is varied in style and narrative, often switching between close-up (micro) and wide-angle (macro) perspectives, such as depicting microbes alongside giants. He uses homemade paint to add deeper meaning and emotion to his figurative elements and materials.

EMA VANEKOVÁ

Ema Vaneková‘s (Slovakia, 1999) paintings explore themes such as love, everyday life and the desires and needs of a young woman, often evoking a sense of melancholy and the passage of time. Inspired by personal experiences and observations, Ema captures moments of intimate significance, whether reflecting on the feeling of falling in love for the first time, living together, or even the simple image of a chapel in her grandmother’s village.

For her, art is a way of creating emotion and connection in a world that sometimes seems distant. A world in which people no longer share anything, but everything is shared – love, sorrow, fear. The vulnerability of her paintings reminds that everything of value is defenseless, as the poet Lucebert once wrote, and that it is in this vulnerability that the deepest meaning and connections are to be found.

Don’t miss these up-and-coming artists at the fair. Treat yourself to an artistic adventure with 1000s of contemporary artworks from 69 Dutch and international galleries. You’ll be welcomed by our friendly team, along with galleries, artists and other guests to enjoy the exciting range of artworks on show. See you there!