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anni mertens

Born 1995 in Luxembourg.
Lives and works in Gent, Belgium.


EDUCATION


2020-2022        MA Fine Arts - Ceramic and Glass, LUCA                                               School of Arts, Gent, Belgium
2019-2020       Pre-master Architecture, ArtEz, Arnhem,                                                The Netherlands
2017                    BA Exchange, RMIT University of Arts,                                                      Melbourne, Australia
2015-2019       BA Fine Arts (honours degree), HKU, Utrecht,                                        The Netherlands

EXHIBITIONS
2022           ART Rotterdam, Gallery Janknegt, Van Nelle                                        Fabriek, Rotterdam, NL
2022            Project VITRINE, Duoshow, Gent, Belgium
2022            Printemps du CAL, Groupshow, Luxembourg LUX
2021            Salon du CAL, Groupshow, Luxembourg LUX
2021            YLA - Young Luxembourgish Artists Vol.1,                                               Valerius Gallery, Luxembourg
2021             BIENNALE DES ETUDIANTS EN ART, Groupshow,                              ViArt, Vianden LUX
2021             ZOMERSALON '21, Groupshow, KUNSTHAL                                         Gent, Gent BE
2021             Project VITRINE, Duoshow, VITRINE, Gent BE
2020             Yes, again!, Groupshow, PATTY MORGAN,                                              Amsterdam, NL
2020              Artistintheworld Utrecht Edition, Groupshow,                                        Galerie Larik, Utrecht NL
2020              THE SKY IS BLUE, Groupshow, D.I.R.T Gallery,                                     Rotterdam, NL
2020              De Belofte, Group Show, Kunstliefde, Utrecht, NL
2020              Apprentice Master returns from the Web,                                              Groupshow, TAC, Eindhoven NL
2020              Under certain circumstances, Solo Show,  EXBOOT                          Utrecht, NL
2020              OBJECT Rotterdam, Groushow, Rotterdam, NL
2020              Jonge Talenten 2019, Group Show, ARTPHY,                                        Groningen, NL
2019              VERS BIJ MIJ, Group Show, MUSEUM,                                                      IJSSELSTEIN, IJsselstein, NL
2019               FRESH CACAO, Group Show, CACAO, FABRIEK                                Helmond NL
2019              SCHEPSELS EN CREATUREN, Group Show,                                        KUNSTLIEFDE, Utrecht, NL
2019             ERNSTIG GESCHIKT! 2019, Group Show,                                               Studio OMSTAND, Arnhem, NL
2019            BEST OF GRADUATES 2019, Group Show,                                            Galerie RON MANDOS, Amsterdam, NL
2019            HKU EXPOSURE 2019, Graduation Show HKU,                                    Utrecht NL  

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PRIZES / NOMINATIONS


Mar 2022         Prix Jeune Talent 2022, CAL, Lux
Aug 2021         Winner Biennale ViArt 2021, ViArt, Vianden, LUX
Dec 2020         Winner Kunstliefdeprijs 2020, Kunstliefde,                                              Utrecht NL

Nov 2019        Nominated for Carat Lucas Gassel Prijs,                                                 Cacaofabriek, Helmond NL
Jul 2019          Nominated for Young Blood Award, Galerie Ron                                 Mandos, Amsterdam NL
Jul 2019          Winner Option 49 Prijs, HKU, Utrecht NL
Jul 2019          Nominated for De Hiviniziki Thesis Prize, HKU,                                     Utrecht NL
Jul 2019          Nominated for HKU Award 2019, HKU, Utrecht N

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PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

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2023          MNHA-Nationalmusée

2023          Ministère de la culture

Portrait_Anni Mertens.jpeg
Installation shot copy.JPG

Installation: Bend or Squeeze, Let in the Breeze, 2021,

dimensions variable, 

ceramics, steel

Anni Mertens works mainly with ceramics, steel, found objects and a healthy dose of humour. Her intuitive way of working, her play with material, size and colour, allow her to enlarge her toolkit of shapes. Once the individual sculptures are grouped together on diverse structures, they form a theatre of the absurd. The works can be site-specific, relating to their environment while the artist herself, is looking for unexpected placements and connections in the space.


Each set-up is an ever-evolving scene, as the sculptures seek new combinations with one another. At first, it seems like a rather static sculptural landscape but in fact Anni Mertens is looking for movement and dynamic within the
installation.
These movements find translation into twisted forms of ceramic objects by hanging, stretching, squeezing and leaning on the spatial construction. Her sculptural work embraces both abstraction and disfiguration, same as
precision and looseness. The viewer follows the trails of colour and her personally developed visual language inviting into an imaginary surrounding. Some pieces are left unglazed, exposing the earthy colours and textures of clay,
while others are covered with vibrantly bright glazes.

exhibited works

Annï Mertens, Naranja Offshore, 2019  copy.jpg

Naranja Offshore, 2019,

55 x 30 x 35cm,

Glazed ceramics

Cocoon_Anni_Mertens.jpg

Cocoon, 2022,

35 x 35 x 30 cm,

glazed ceramics

YOUNG LUXEMBOURGISH ARTISTS

©ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2021

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