Matthias van Arkel's expression is unique and unmistakable; for 20 years he has combined painting and sculpture in his works made of industrial, silicone rubber.
van Arkel's work has emerged from a conceptual approach. In his three-dimensional works, meaning is achieved through density, sensuality and energy. There is a performative dimension involved in the creative process, where the artist balances intuition against control through the specialised technique he has developed. Sculptural forms move like magnified brushstrokes and form abstract landscapes. van Arkel challenges our perception of what defines a painting and invites us to see it from a new perspective.
Educated at Konstfack and the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, van Arkel currently works in Stockholm and New York. His work can be found in the collections of the Moderna Museet in Stockholm and the SOKO Art Collection in Finland. van Arkel has carried out a number of public works, including the monumental work Micro/Macro World in the Jakobsberg bus terminal.