Rob Birza was born in Geldrop, Netherlands and pursued studies at de Ateliers in Amsterdam. His artistic creations have been extensively showcased in numerous solo exhibitions, as well as in both national and international group exhibitions. His works have been acquired by both private and public collections, and he currently resides and creates in Amsterdam.
Birza’s career has been nothing short of impressive, with two solo exhibitions at the renowned Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam in his twenties, and a continuous stream of exhibitions throughout Europe over the past four decades. He has also been commissioned for numerous public art pieces all across the Netherlands.
At first glance, Birza’s body of work may seem perplexing; playful twists on Stella’s shaped canvases and Schwitters-esque abstract compositions are interspersed with vibrant still lifes of flowers and grand depictions of the Afghan war. As curator and director Ann Demeester of the Frans Hals museum pointed out when introducing Birza’s 2016 series titled “Shifting Circles,” there is always one constant throughout his oeuvre: the delicate balance between the abstract and the figurative. This balance is prominently displayed in the “Shifting Circles” series through a clever interplay between background and foreground, and a structured system in which the colorful circles seem to adhere.
In his most recent series, “Drifting Circles” (2017), Birza has chosen to break away from symmetry and take a more relaxed approach to his circle system. The artist fearlessly embraces a laid-back and mischievous attitude in order to subvert his own system, as well as the larger artistic tradition. This rebellion opens up new possibilities and opportunities, and it is precisely this type of anarchy that played a defining role in the development of abstract art.
www.ftn-books.com has several Birza items now available.
