In the past years George Struikelblok has managed to become quite well known locally as well as internationally, for his expressive and emotional works of art. This young ambitious artist is also constantly on the lookout for new opportunities to increase his skills and further his career. As a result the last few years have seen a number of memorable milestones for George Struikelblok among which the opening of his own private atelier and gallery, a work/study residency at Duende in Rotterdam and most recently in 2008 a special research residency at the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam. Here George did a detailed study on another art specialty he is fascinated with: three dimensional art installations in public places and open landscapes.

Struikelblok is most popular for the emotional paintings in which he expresses his emotions regarding the death of his father even before his own birth, and the resulting search for a line of communication between life and death. With predominantly abstract figures in striking colors and randomly placed letters from the alphabet, the artist puts to the canvas his emotions with regards to his father, but lately other aspects such as family life (he now has three children of his own) are also of great influence to his art. Although the figures are steadily becoming more abstract, there is a heightened sense of flow and movement in the compositions. The work is more dynamic and seems less focused on the emotions of loneliness and desperation, but more on a sense of togetherness and a joy for life.

www.i-museum.nl/struikelgeo

Working experience:
1990- present Teacher at the Nola Hatterman Art Academy in Suriname
Since 1993 – Member of “Art 2000” an organization for young artists in Suriname
Since 2004 - Observing chairman of the FVAS (Federation for Visual Artists in Suriname)1992 - Aquarell workshop in Suriname
2007 - Artist in Residence at Duende, Rotterdam the Netherlands
2008 - Research Residency Rijksacademie, Amsterdam, the Netherlands


Exhibitions:
2012 Sunchi i brasa, Galerie Alma Blou, Curacao
2012 Art in Society: The Power of Culture, IDB Cultural Center, Washington DC, USA
2012 Lob' Makandra, Galerie Huijs Basten Asbeck, Groenlo, the Netherlands
2012 Group exhibition, Guyane Automobile, Matoury, French Guiana
2012 Revealing our stored treasures, Readytex Art Gallery/De Hal, Suriname
2011 Bosi’s en brasa’s, Galerie 23, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2011 Lob’ mi tu tamara, Readytex Art Gallery/De Hal, Suriname
2011 De verleiding van Coronie, The Hague, the Netherlands
2010 Lob Makandra, Galerie L’ Encadrier, Cayenne,French Guiana
2010 Flits expo George Struikelblok, Galerie 23, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2010 Lob Makandra, Landhuis Bloemhof, Curacao
2010 Paramaribo SPAN, DSB Bank. Paramaribo, Suriname
2010 PAN Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2009 Affordable Art Fair, Paris, France
2009 Art & Antiques Fair S-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands
2009 Affordable Art fair Brussel, Begium