Karel Appel's Work

Karel Appel had his first exposition in 1946 in Groningen, The Netherlands.

He was extremely productive and created many works of art. He develops a new style in 1947 and uses wood and found objects in relief and introduces elements of narrative representation.

In 1949 his painting, a fresco called 'Questioning Children', caused controversy. It hang in the Amsterdam City Hall, but was covered up for ten years.

After Karel Appel moved to Paris, he established an international reputation by works and travels to Mexico, the USA, Yugoslavia and Brazil. He became particularly noted for his mural work.

He spends 2 summers in Italy, where he learns the technique of ceramics. He makes a series of sculptures in terra-cotta.

In 1955 Karel was asked to paint a 100 meter-long brick wall called Wall of Energy for the exhibition entitled "E'55" (Energy '55) in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

In 1956, he is commissioned by the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam to make a mural for its new restaurant, Appel uses stained glass for the first time and that same year he makes six stained glass windows for the Kruis Church in Geleen, illustrating the Genesis.

Two years later he creates a painting that functions as a mural in the restaurant of the UNESCO building in Paris.

During the 60's and 70's he develops all kinds of art, using different techniques such as painted murals, marble and ceramic tiles, glass-in-concrete-reliefs and stained glass. He even incorporated objects in his paintings, which would lead to his colorful sculptures later on.

He creates a mural in Peru in 1976 and that same year a book is published, Encre à deux pinceaux (Two Brush Paintings), in collaboration with Hugo Claus, who made the poems for it.

The diversity of his works resulted in many creations all over the world. Paintings, murals, drawings, graphic works, and many other works of arts, sprung from his creative mind. Most of his work can be found in Dutch museums and the Karel Appel Foundation.

Paintings and pictures Copyright © Karel Appel Foundation.