Studio

Studio space

My studio (38m2) is located in Leidschendam, not far from Leiden en The Hague in a building called 'Sector V' which offers all kinds of units to small and medium sized businesses.

Welcome for a studio visit

You always welcome to plan a studio visit! Please give me a call or an e-mail a few days in advance and I will be happy to welcome you in my 'sanctuary'. You'll find my contact details in the footer of this website

 

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BLOG // ART / Studio

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BLOG // ART

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Artist Michiel Nagtegaal

Dutch abstract art balancing vibrant colors and bold graphic shapes 

Dutch contemporary urban artist Michiel Nagtegaal uses vibrant colours and bold patterns, as a visual language of happiness and joy. His art reflects his optimistic faith in the world, although Michiel often perceives reality as too bound by 'unspoken rules that must to be followed'.

The abstract fantasy worlds Michiel Nagtegaal likes to create, heal the wounds of this reality and provide a warm escape route. The happy fantasy worlds are bound by only one rule; they need to leave a positive impression on the viewer.

Drawing

Mr. Upside (Michiel Nagtegaal, 1974) has a carefree childhood. He doesn't have any brothers or sisters but has many friends. When his friends are not around, he draws. Drawing makes him loose track of time and it develops his intuition for color and form. His ambition is to become a well-known illustrator of comic books. But after high school and six months Graphic School he abandons those dreams and starts working full time.

Business

For Michiel money isn't the world, but it surely equals freedom. In the early days of house music and together with two companions, he co-founds a company that organizes house music events in local venues. Michiel likes to design the flyers. Those flyers and his comics become part of the portfolio he takes with him when he successfully applies for a graphic design job at an advertising agency.

Supershift

During the rise of the Internet, he 'upgrades' this graphic design job for a webdesign job at an internet agency. In the evenings, together with a befriended developer, he founds internet agency Supershift in 2000. In 2005 clients are getting bigger, a third companion joins the company and Michiel learns that managing a company is not one of his passions. He misses the freedom to create. In 2007, when the small internet agency employs more than five people, Michiel leaves the company and starts a successful career as Freelance Designer, under the moniker Designia.

Wise words

He is 38 when daughter Zoë is born. Fatherhood makes him thinking about the future and the wisdom that he will pass on to his daughter. Things like: 'Do whatever you like, as long as you do it with passion' and 'Follow your dreams'.

Which of that wisdom does he practice himself? He realises that ultimate (creative) freedom only can be achieved as an artist. 

Increase energy

Just like film, books, news and music, art has the power to influence the energy levels of the viewer. Emotions in the artworks are reflected in the viewer. But why would you want to make the viewer sad or angry? What is the point in decreasing the energy of the viewer? Michiel feels that art should always try to increase and lift the energy of the viewer. One way to reach that goal is to use the vibrant colors Mr. Upside uses in his artworks.

Download Press Kit

A Press Kit (48,4 MB, PDF) is available for download here. It contains:

• A short version of the biography
• An Artist Statement,
• A list of exhibitions and shows,
• An overview of past and current publicity
• An visual overview of recent artworks
• A download link for high resolution images

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DAILY UPDATES ON INSTAGRAM

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Mr. Upside Gallery

Art gallery in Voorburg, the Netherlands

View of the shopping window of the Mr. Upside Gallery in Voorburg, the Netherlands

A few years ago, when we bought our current house (build in 1922) in Voorburg, The Netherlands, we reserved the ground floor (80m2 / 861ft2) as an office for both our companies, Designia and Janette van Tol. We envisioned having great meetings with clients here and hosting creative workshops, while serving great coffee and delicious sandwiches.  

Messy storage room

But as the years went by, we realised we had been working at the offices of our clients mostly. So the space turned into an occasional art studio, messy storage room, second living room and party room. To name a few. Fun, but as the room takes up almost one third of our house, we had the idea to let the room generate some income. 

Popup art gallery

A few weeks ago, while my art ambitions are evolving into something serious, we decided to make a major part of the room a (popup) art gallery. In the past, the ground floor has had similar destinations. The large shop window with stained glas still reminds of that past. 

Work in Progress

So within a few days we pulled everything out of the front part of the room, hanged the artworks on the walls and a new gallery was born. Ok, point taken. It's not that simple. A lot of work still needs to be done. Selling the black couch for instance and putting info cards on the walls and changing the window signage. But I am happy with the result so far! What do you think?

Artist(s) wanted / seeking representation?

Want your artwork on our walls in Voorburg? Want to be part of our art promotions?
Send us an e-mail with a link to your online art portfolio and a short explanation why your art should be hanging here and we will get in touch as soon as possible!

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BLOG // ART / Gallery

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BLOG // ART

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DAILY UPDATES ON INSTAGRAM

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Press room

International and Dutch art press releases featuring artist Michiel Nagtegaal

A list of selected international and Dutch press releases. Also a Press Kit can be downloaded for more information and acces to hi-res images of the Mr. Upside artworks.

Past publicity

2016
2016-04-29 - Interview (in English) - 'Interview with artist Mr. Upside' on The Crazy Mind
2016-09-08 - Interview (in English) - 'Interview with Michiel Nagtegaal aka Mr. Upside' on Special Interview
2016-10-22 - Book Feature - Featured in the Dutch Artists Yearbook 2017

2015
2015-12-16 - Feature on online gallery Bold Gallery (UK)
2015-06-22 - Blog Feature (in Dutch) 'Unieke Bold Lines flessen van...' on Stylingblog.nl
2015-05-05 - Interview (in English) - 'Work inspiration with Michiel Nagtegaal' on Workspiration.org
2015-03-30 - Interview (in Dutch) - 'Ondernemen als creatief' on Angelcoaching.nl

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Download Press Kit

A Press Kit (25 MB, PDF) is available for download in English and Dutch, by clicking on one of the buttons below.
It contains:

• A short version of the biography
• An Artist Statement,
• A list of past, current and future exhibitions and shows,
• An overview of past and current publicity
• A Wetransfer-download link for high resolution images

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BLOG // ART

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DAILY UPDATES ON INSTAGRAM

Check out what I am doing today

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Exhibitions

Past exhibitions

Netherlands
Eindhoven, NOW Art Fair - April 19th - April 20th 2015

Germany
Hamburg, Marziart Gallery - Group show - January 15th - February 10th 2016

Sweden 
Stockholm, Hilton Slussen - March 1st 2016 - May 2016 - Part of European Tour

France
Paris, Hilton Orly Airport - Group show - May 2016 - June 2016 - Part of European Tour

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Current exhibitions

France
Strasbourg, Hilton Strasbourg / Meetings - Solo show - June 2017 - Part of European Tour

Netherlands
Mr. Upside Gallery, Voorburg - Permanent
 
United Kingdom
Bold Gallery (UK) London

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Planned exhibitions

Germany 
Munich, Hilton City Hotel - Group show - Date to be decided - Part of European Tour

Denmark
Copenhagen, Hilton Airport Hotel - Group show - Date to be decided - Part of European Tour

Luxembourg
Luxembourg, DoubleTree Hotel - Group show - Date to be decided - Part of European Tour

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BLOG // ART

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