The Life and Training of Stijn Peeters

Stijn Peeters was born in 1957 in Valkenswaard, Netherlands. His early years in the region led him toward formal training in the visual arts, beginning with his studies at the Koninklijke Academie voor Kunst en vormgeving in ’s-Hertogenbosch. He spent four years there, from 1978 to 1982, developing the foundational skills that would later inform his approach to both drawing and painting.

Following his time in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Peeters moved to Maastricht to attend the Jan van Eyck Academie. He studied there between 1985 and 1987, a period that helped shape his practice. The movement of his hand has always been tied to his thinking, a habit that began during these formative years of study. He uses the act of drawing to store information and analyze what he has seen and experienced.

Today, Stijn Peeters lives and works in Eindhoven, Netherlands. His practice remains rooted in the connection between the gesture of the hand and the internalizing of visual memory.

Artistic Technique and Creative Process

Stijn Peeters begins much of his work through the act of drawing and writing. For him, the physical movement of the hand is a way to support his thinking. He uses the line to process what he has seen and experienced, using the gesture to internalize those observations. This practice of marking a surface helps him analyze the world around him, turning a visual encounter into a recorded thought.

While drawing and writing remain central, painting entered his practice later. Even in his canvases, the work stays closely tied to the sign and its specific gesture. He does not hide the way a painting comes into being. Instead, his canvases often reveal the first beginnings of a piece alongside the most achieved details. By showing these distinct phases of creation, the work allows a viewer to see the actual development of the image as it was built.

Exhibitions and Professional Recognition

The first verified exhibition for Stijn Peeters took place in 1991 at Kunstverein Heinsberg in Heinsberg. This marked the beginning of a steady presence in the art world, leading to the receipt of the Philip Morris Preis in 1992. Over the last thirty years, his practice has been marked by a consistent rhythm of showing, including at least seven solo exhibitions and 15 group shows. These presentations have moved through various spaces, finding a home primarily in the Netherlands, but also reaching into Germany and Sweden.

His work has been featured in several notable institutions, including the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven and the Stedelijk Museum Breda. He has also participated in exhibitions at the Haus der Kunst in München and the Weserburg Museum für moderne Kunst. His presence in the exhibition circuit is often tied to specific projects and research-based shows, such as those held at the Cacaofabriek in Helmond or the Dordrechts Museum. These appearances reflect a career built on a steady accumulation of solo and group engagements across Europe.

Where to See the Works Today

The physical traces of Stijn Peeters's practice are held in several institutional collections across the Netherlands. In Eindhoven, his presence is felt through the Van Abbemuseum and the van Abbe Museum. These collections hold pieces that reflect his long-standing connection to the region. His work is also part of the holdings at the Stedelijk Museum Breda, where his involvement in recent exhibitions has been noted.

Other collections preserve his output in various municipalities. The Museum van Bommel van Dam in Venlo maintains works from his practice, as does the Noordbrabants Museum in ’s-Hertogenbosch. In Oss, the Museum Jan Cunen also keeps his pieces within its permanent collection. These locations offer a way to see how his drawings and paintings have been gathered over the years.