UNRAVEL THE POWER AND POLITICS OF TEXTILES IN ART

14 September 2024 until 5 January 2025

Few things are as present in our everyday lives as textiles. They cover and protect us, engage our senses, trigger our memories and represent our beliefs and tastes. Yet textiles remained underexamined in art history, while contemporary artists have rediscovered the powerful possibilities of textiles to tell their personal histories. In Unravel, the Stedelijk brings together 47 international contemporary artists, both renowned names like Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin and Sheila Hicks and many from younger generations from around the world.

Unravel is organized by the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the Barbican, London. Curated by Amanda Pinatih (Stedelijk) and Lotte Johnson and Wells Fray-Smith (Barbican). Thanks to the Cultuurfonds and Zabawas Foundation.

IN SITU — NORA TURATO

From 14 September 2024

The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is launching IN SITU, a new series in the mezzanine of the new building. For each edition, an artist will be commissioned to develop a monumental work of art. Nora Turato kicks off the series with a video and sound installation that explores how we use language and how language influences our identity and ways of communicating. The artist collects texts from the world around her—emails and WhatsApp messages, social media posts, YouTube tutorials, online lectures, museum texts, advertisements, conversations overheard in restaurants. For her new work, Turato examines how language impacts us—from how we learn to speak as children to how we adopt the words of others. By combining language and typography, she questions how much control we truly have over how we communicate.

Amsterdam-based artist Farida Sedoc will create work starting in fall 2025 for the second edition. She previously designed the Black Lives Matter poster for the Stedelijk and participated in the exhibition In the Presence of Absence (2020).

The exhibition by Nora Turato, created for the IN SITU series, is generously supported by Ammodo, the Mondriaan Fund and Niemeijer Fonds. Curated by Vincent van Velsen.

MIRIAM CAHN — READING DUST

5 October 2024 until 26 January 2025

Miriam Cahn evokes powerful emotions with simple brushstrokes and a vigorous drawing style. Her paintings and drawings depict human atrocities with brutal reality. Her provocative work has been exhibited worldwide, drawing critical acclaim at documenta 14 (2017), the Venice Biennale (2022) and Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2023).

Cahn uses very different formats, bursts of color and enigmatic human forms to portray universal emotions such as anger, fear, loss, vulnerability and power. She paints indistinct, semi-abstract figures in otherworldly landscapes, where she confronts the complexities and primary emotions of human life. From the vulnerable to the powerful, from perpetrators to victims. Her skill in creating maximum impact with minimal means underscores her unique place in the art world.

Miriam Cahn — Reading Dust is organized by the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and is curated by Rein Wolfs. The exhibition is supported by the benefactors of the Stedelijk Museum Fonds.

DAN FLAVIN — BACK AT THE STEDELIJK! 

Fall 2024

The iconic light installation by Dan Flavin will soon be back on view at the Stedelijk Museum. The installation untitled (to Piet Mondrian through his preferred colors, red, yellow and blue) was designed specifically for the museum in 1986 and is composed of brightly colored fluorescent lights. The installation is an homage to Piet Mondrian, his forerunner in abstract art and champion of using the primary colors red, yellow and blue—colors associated with De Stijl. The second part of the installation, untitled (to Piet Mondrian who lacked green), is a supplement to the first work. Although Mondrian repudiated the color green, Flavin frequently used it because light is essentially made up of red, blue and green. Flavins’ use of green is thus an indirect tribute to Mondrian’s modernism, but translated into a contemporary material: light.

CIRCULATE — PHOTOGRAPHY BEYOND FRAMES

26 October 2024 until 23 March 2025

Circulate showcases 21 projects that use and approach photography in a variety of ways. They start with the meaning of the image and often choose a spatial form of presentation, abandoning both the physical and mental frame. Aside from traditional photographic paper, the support can also consist of textile, canvas, stone, or be presented as a three-dimensional installation or moving image. Some of the images were made by the artist, but many were sourced from the endless flow of images that surround us. The exhibition emphasizes works at the intersection of visual arts and photography, reflecting the museum’s new direction in the field of photography. Many works were created especially for Circulate, and the Stedelijk will announce the acquisitions for the collection during the exhibition.

The participating artists:
Aimée Zito Lema / Ana María Gómez López / Anika Schwarzlose ism. Elena Khurtova en Brian D. McKenna / Bruno Zhu / Gilleam Trapenberg / Hira Nabi / Ima-Abasi Okon / Jaya Pelupessy / Katarina Jazbec / Katja Mater / Katja Novitskova / Kévin Bray / Kevin Osepa / Kwabena Sekyi Appiah-nti / Mandy Franca / Neo Matloga / Paoletta Holst / Robert Glas / Semâ Bekirović / Sharelly Emanuelson / Vytautas Kumža

This exhibition - curated by Mirelva Berghout and Vincent van Velsen - is the latest edition of the biennial Municipal Art Acquisitions and and is generously supported by the City of Amsterdam.

SCULPTURE GARDEN FOR EVERYONE — DON QUIXOTE SCULPTURE HALL

From 16 November

A long-held wish of many Amsterdammers is coming true: the Stedelijk’s beloved sculpture garden is making a comeback! A 'garden' reimagined in the museum's foyer, the sculpture hall will be open to everyone. The collection features early modern classics and contemporary sculptures by Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Willem de Kooning, Rebecca Warren and Anne Imhof—plus an eye-catching work by Damien Hirst on loan to the museum. The sculpture hall is the Stedelijk’s gift to the city in honour of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary. The entire area has undergone a complete makeover. Meet friends at the brand-new coffee bar, relax in the Stedelijk Chair designed by Sabine Marcelis especially for the museum, explore the revitalised shop and take in the amazing art.

The sculpture hall and remodelled foyer, designed in collaboration with CLOUD's Paul Cournet, were made possible thanks to the generous support of the Don Quixote Foundation.

ABN AMRO ART PRIZE — SELMA SELMAN

29 January until 21 April 2025

Selma Selman is the winner of the twelfth edition of the ABN AMRO Art Prize. As part of the award, the artist will have an exhibition at the Stedelijk in January 2025. Through paintings, performances, videos, and installations, she addresses the position of women, traditional gender roles, and the value of labor and materials in her own unique way.

FORMAFANTASMA — OLTRE TERRA

15 February until 13 July 2025

Oltre Terra, Formafantasma’s ongoing project and traveling exhibition, explores the history, ecology, and global dynamics of wool extraction and production. It goes further than the simple definition of wool as material, to look at it within a much broader ecology. Wool is the entry point for delving into the intricate interactions and interdependencies within an ecosystem. By looking at the history of sheep domestication, wool production, and material culture, Oltre Terra unravels the complexities of the cooperative symbiosis between animals, humans, and the environment. The exhibition explores this very intimate, yet complex, bond between humans and animals, emphasizing the impact they have on one another.

The exhibition is curated by Amanda Pinatih.

ANSELM KIEFER — SAG MIR WO DIE BLUMEN SIND

7 March until 9 June 2025

For the first time in their history, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam are joining forces to stage a major exhibition of one of the most important artists of our time: Anselm Kiefer.

Kiefer will be placed center stage in a place that is closely connected with his development as an artist. From his childhood, Kiefer has had a special connection with the work of Vincent van Gogh. He also has a long, personal history with the Stedelijk. The exhibition includes a host of popular artworks: at the Van Gogh Museum, well-known works by Vincent van Gogh will be displayed alongside work by Kiefer. At the Stedelijk, all the Kiefers from the Stedelijk collection will be shown together for the first time, including the audience favorite Innenraum. Both venues will also present new, previously unexhibited work by the artist.

The exhibition Anselm Kiefer – Sag mir wo die Blumen sind is organized by the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam in collaboration with the artist. The exhibition is curated by Emilie Gordenker and Edwin Becker from the Van Gogh Museum, and by Leontine Coelewij from the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

Made possible by the Turing Foundation, a joint partner of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the Van Gogh Museum.

POST NO BILLS #6 — HEDY TJIN

April 2025

The series Post/No/Bills is recurring exhibition that responds to the fastest forms of graphic design by activating the Stedelijk’s main “thoroughfare” surrounding the historic staircase, and presenting graphic design projects along this permanent circuit. For 2025, Amsterdam-based illustration designer Hedy Tjin will take over the space with her signature style: bold and powerful colors supporting underlying messages that are strongly influenced by cultural and ethnic issues. Her work is driven by a desire to use art as a vehicle for inclusivity and openness: her vivid and radiant visuals invite the audience to explore complex themes in a new and appealing way. Previous editions of Post/No/Bills featured Hezin O, Kristyan Sarkis, Sophie Douala, Now You See Me Moria, and Metro54.

Post/No/Bills is curated by Thomas Castro.

PAMELA ROSENKRANZ

May – September 2025

Artist Pamela Rosenkranz presents her first exhibition in the Netherlands at the Stedelijk Museum. Rosenkranz is internationally acclaimed for her immersive works that reflect on the relationship between the body, its physiology and rapidly changing environment. In Rosenkranz’s work, this environment is marked by advanced technology, late capitalism, and human-machine relations. Her work often consists of installations and readymade sculptures that frequently reference famous artworks or everyday objects such as Amazon packaging and water bottles. Rosenkranz was a resident of the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten from 2010 to 2012. She has presented solo exhibitions at institutions such as Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva (2010), Kunsthalle Basel (2012), Swiss Pavilion, Venice Biennale (2015), K21 Düsseldorf (2017), and Kunsthaus Bregenz (2021). In 2023, she unveiled a major public sculpture on New York’s High Line.

The exhibition is curated by Karen Archey.

KAREL MARTENS

12 July – 26 October 2025

Dutch designer Karel Martens has been a major influence in the landscape of graphic design for the past five decades. His playful and visual approach to design and typography has had a tangible impact on contemporary graphic design, book design, and typography. His body of work spans books, autonomous printing, textiles, kinetic sculptures, and 3D objects. At the age of 85, he is still active as a graphic designer, and still gives lectures and teaches worldwide. In 2025, the Stedelijk will showcase an extensive overview of his body of work in a comprehensive exhibition.

The exhibition is curated by Thomas Castro.

SANDRA MUIJINGA

13 September – 11 Januari 2026

Sandra Mujinga will present a monumental exhibition in the museum’s lower-level gallery. Mujinga’s practice draws on speculative fiction and worldbuilding to investigate alternatives to our current society. She addresses topics like visibility and dis/appearance combined with socio-political realities, sustenance, posthumanism, perception, and blackness. This ties into the ways in which we live in a world we barely understand, since both technology and nature are beyond our comprehension and control. Mujinga addresses this condition through metaphors and physical perceptions to convey experiences through sound, light, ambiences, and imposing sculptures that often create unsettling effects and affect. Her solo at the Stedelijk will focus on the relationship between the viewer and space to emphasize the reciprocal nature of our environment.

ERWIN OLAF

11 October 2025 - end of February 2026

The Stedelijk is organizing the first exhibition of the work of Erwin Olaf after his sudden death last year, in collaboration with Studio Erwin Olaf. He was one of the Netherlands’ most influential photographers, known for his bold style and staged photographs.

As well as iconic series from Olaf’s oeuvre, the retrospective will also present never-before-seen works by the multimedia artist, both older and recent. These include the extraordinary Self-Portrait with Lungs (2023), which has yet to be shown in a museum, and work made during his illness. The exhibition will also show the edgy, underground nature of the work of Erwin Olaf, who was also known for exploring subversive and activist themes.

His work explored the human body and themes such as sexuality and impermanence; later, man’s vulnerability and loneliness increasingly came to the fore. Olaf was a tireless fighter for equal rights for all. This aspect of his work will also be highlighted in the exhibition.

SYMPOSIUM — UNRAVEL

11 and 12 October 2024

The Unravel symposium delves into two principal themes of the exhibition: ‘Borderlands’ and ‘Ancestral Threads’, offering a more profound exploration and innovative perspectives on these topics. The artists featured in the Borderlands section interrogate how borderlands can serve as sites of significant creativity, subvert the language and aesthetics of borders, and transcend them. Ancestral Threads centers on the reclamation of ancestral knowledge by artists from diverse backgrounds. By critiquing colonially imposed ways of being—including imposed borders, notions of identity, and the devaluation of certain types of knowledge—the symposium will evoke journeys through both space and time.

EEN FAMILIEPORTRET — SANDER BREURE AND WITTE VAN HULZEN

22, 23 and 24 November 2024

The Stedelijk presents Een Familieportret (A Family Portrait) by artists Sander Breure and Witte van Hulzen. Een Familieportret is a long-term project consisting of a performance, a video installation and a script. This portrait of an average Dutch family invites reflection on language and time, but can also be read as entertaining “reality theater”; a true-life farce. The first part was made in 2014 and performed at the Stedelijk. After the widely acclaimed part 1, ten years later comes part 2. A Family Portrait is a collaboration with actor group Wunderbaum and IDFA on stage, and is presented at the Stedelijk.

BADKUIP LECTURE — RENZO MARTENS

30 November 2024, starting at 15:00 hours

The annual Badkuip Lecture is a new tradition in which thinkers and creators reflect on current issues in the art world. This year, artist Renzo Martens will speak. Along with the Congolese artist collective Cercle d’Art des Travailleurs de Plantation Congolaise (CATPC), he is representing the Netherlands at this year’s Venice Biennale. In this forward-thinking lecture, Martens explores the (literal) construction of the museum and its legacy in promoting groundbreaking art, with the aim of formulating a clear and collective future for the Stedelijk.

JULIANKNXX — MANIFESTATION #54: SOLO EXHIBITION

27 January until 24 April 2025

The versatile work of Julianknxx includes poetry, performance, film, music, and sculptures. He draws from his personal experiences to broaden perspectives on the history and culture of Africa and its diaspora. With his distinctive style, inspired by oral traditions and history, his work invites to reflect on how local and global narratives are formed and persist. In May 2024, Julianknxx performed at Buro Stedelijk in collaboration with Metro54. This performance marked the beginning of an ongoing partnership between Buro Stedelijk and Julianknxx, with this exhibition serving as its continuation.

I MUST STILL GROW IN THE DARK — MANIFESTATION #53: GROUP EXHIBITION

22 May until 17 July 2025

I Must Still Grow in the Dark is a group exhibition that explores the role and characteristics of darkness. The exhibition highlights how darkness can blur the boundaries between the body and space and how certain knowledge remains hidden from outsiders. It also examines why light is often perceived as positive and darkness as negative. The exhibition reveals forgotten qualities of darkness and challenges racist and colonial views that associate darkness with evil. Darkness is not simply the opposite of light, like black versus white, but a complex and vital force.

This exhibition is curated by Stéphanie Noach and Rita Ouédraogo of Buro Stedelijk.

TO BE DETERMINED — FEATURING DUO SAROJINI LEWIS AND RAZIA BARSATIE, AMONG OTHERS

14 August until 9 October 2025

To Be Determined is a recurring event where artists move their studios to Buro Stedelijk. In the project space, traditional exhibition and museum practices are challenged through artistic interventions. Buro Stedelijk offers a space where the work is continuously in development and not static. Artists can constantly adjust, observe, and experiment with their work. This exploration focuses on the interaction between artistic production and institutional presentation. Visitors actively follow how the work evolves and adapts.