Marc de Vries, Naarden, The Netherlands, 1967

The Early Years

At an early age Marc de Vries began looking for ways to express himself through visual representation. While still in primary school, Marc began making collages featuring smashed up metal toy cars (his earliest passion). In high-school, inspired by the colorful dresses of his mother, he created a series of paint and fabric collages featuring bright colors. This early work led ultimately to de Vries's first commercial venture as an artist - a 1990 collaboration with the fashion house Leonard. Using Leonard fabrics, Marc created a series of collages that were featured in Leonard stores in Antwerp and Cannes.

On the basis of his growing body of work, which also included thousands of designs for cars, in 1989 de Vries was admitted to the High School for the Arts in Utrecht. During his time in Utrecht de Vries continued experimenting with visual representation, pushing the limits of what is considered art with his startling combinations of genres and techniques. In addition to exploring the boundaries of theatrical set design, at Utrecht de Vries created a range of clothing for cats.

Amsterdam

Seeking both a more inspiring lifestyle, and new opportunities to express his original view of what constitutes artistic representation (or even art itself), in 1991 de Vries transferred to the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. In his time at Rietveld de Vries continued to push the boundaries of artistic expression. Although he did not deliberately aim to provoke, his works were indeed often considered provocative. At Rietveld, de Vries created a series of collages featuring challenging symbolism - including burning crosses and Third Reich architecture. In these works de Vries focused on the stylistic import of these controversial representations - eschewing political correctness and exposing the profound limits of artistic expression in modern times. In another expression of his ongoing interest in juxtaposing themes, elements, mediums and techniques, de Vries created a series that featured balloons harnessed in metal (an exercise that led to many punctured balloons).

Commercial Work

In 1994, in what would become a long-term commercial relationship with the Amsterdam club world, de Vries made a series of colorful and outrageous installations for the windows of the famous Amsterdam club IT. The IT window display, which utilized both photo-collages and live models, attracted the attention of the local media.

Pursuing his interest in visual presentation, in 1995 de Vries began working with an old mentor from Utrecht, now a famous television art director, Apostolis Panagopolis. For the next three years de Vries worked with Panagopolis as an art-director and set director, learning much about the importance of lighting and perspective to visual representation.

MuralsbyMarc

In 1997, de Vries launched his own business, MuralsbyMarc. In addition to numerous murals, de Vries also designed interiors and stands for fairs and exhibitions. His most recent work is currently adorning the walls of Club Lost and Found in Helsinki. A mural that he created for the guesthouse Boutique Manolo in Cape Town was featured in a 2006 issue of VISI magazine ("the English issue").

Although Marc's murals have featured many different subjects and themes, de Vries's mural work is less about specific images and more about making a space more interesting and individual: bigger/smaller, cozier/cooler, taller/lower, engaging/challenging. His murals are also collaborative works: de Vries always considers the function of a room and the personality and taste of a client, when creating these very personal works. That said, Marc's murals are also intended to appeal to a wide viewing audience: they are designed both to be easy to interact with and powerful to experience.

Recent Art Work

In spite of his commercial success and the demand for his murals, de Vries has continued to develop a diverse artistic portfolio. His work, although notable for its eclecticism, can be characterized by a number of recurring elements. De Vries continues to enjoy experimenting with color, and favors either a very strong palette or a striking lack of color. He also continues to enjoy mixing genres, media and techniques. Finally, de Vries's work is marked by a sensuality that is visual (imagery), sensory (textures) and intellectual (themes).

In 2001 de Vries finished his "Ass if" series. Ironically, although the demands of years working to the expectations and wishes of commissioning clients had made him long to develop his own style, it was those years of experience as a designer that led to this series of bright colorful paintings. The "Ass if" series of paintings (acrylic on cotton), is all about sensual interpretations of the human body.

In 2003 de Vries created a series of paintings featuring details of the human body. In response to the free interpretations of the human body in the series "Ass if," Marc now felt an urge to show another side to his talents, to paint in oil, and to represent real life bodies. This desire resulted in the series "Details" (oil on linen).

In 2007 de Vries returned to the use of mixed techniques, creating a number of quite different series ("Cunst," "Deal or no Deal," and "White"). In these series he used, in addition to acrylic and oil, materials such as foam, coated paper and gold leaf.

Although de Vries has experimented with different styles over the years, all his work is characterized by an omnipresent sensuality, either implicit or explicit.


Exhibitions:

2010 Rariteitenkabinet Boris serie "CUNST" Amsterdam
2009 Rariteitenkabinet Boris series "White" and "Rembrandt" Amsterdam
2008 GoGallery series "Deal or no Deal" Amsterdam.
2007 GoGallery series "CUNST" Amsterdam.
2003 GoGallery series "Details" Amsterdam.
2002 GoGallery Summer Exhibition Amsterdam.
2001 Traveling galery Vertrek en Verblijf Amsterdam.
2001 De Trap series "Ass If" Amsterdam.
1991 Couture LEONARD Antwerp.
1990 Bergers Interieurs Berkel en Rodenrijs.
1989 Broring Interieurs Hilversum.
1988 Scorpio Bussum.


Murals:

- Kinky Kappers Haarlemmerdijk Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Questhouse Boutique Manolo Cape Town South Africa
- Restaurant Jocabi Roquetas de Mar Spain
- Go Gallery Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Club Nutsville Antwerp Belgium
- Verzorgingshuis "Bloemendaal" Baarn The Netherlands
- Torture Museum Amsterdam The Netherlands
- It Discotheek Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Acteer opleiding De Trap Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Spectacular Eyewear Utrecht The Netherlands
- Café de Havelaar Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Housewives on Fire Antwerp Belgium
- Casino Apeldoorn The Netherlands
- World Fashion Center Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Café de Engel Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Club Lost & Found Helsinki Finland
- Housewives on Fire Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Keesing International Publishers Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Grand-café Wildschut Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Backdoor Amsterdam The Netherlands
- Restaurant Gilbert's Roquetas de Mar Spain
- FOX reizen Nieuw-Vennep The Netherlands
- Restaurant Marmara Ibiza Spain
- Various private assignments in The Netherlands and abroad.


Artwork:

1988 Series "Collages" - combined techniques - based on Haute Couture from house "Leonard"
2001 Series "Ass if" - acrylic on cotton - large sized paintings
2003 Series "Details" - oil on canvas - painted details from statues of human bodies
2007 Series "Cunst" - combined techniques
2007 Series "White" - statues and works in different sizes made from styrofoam
2008 Series "Deal or no Deal" - combined techniques - sequel to the series "Cunst"
2008 Series "Colors" - acrylic on cotton
2008 Series "Delft Blue" - acrylic on cotton