We are all here – Dat Bolwerck
A personal story in my hometown Zutphen.
On 3 October 2025, an extremely personal exhibition opens in Dat Bolwerck in which I unravel my quest for personal space in my native city. We Are All Here is a research project exploring how we can occupy our space and live together harmoniously.
The exhibition displays new work, including a monumental textile installation that can be viewed in both the garden of Dat Bolwerck as well as at Zutphen station.The series Family Textiles – three wall hangings depicting my late father and mother and myself – are also on view in their entirety for the first time in Dat Bolwerck. In addition, my porcelain art works, created when I was artist-in-residence in Arita (Japan), form part of the presentation. Many of my self-portraits highlighting my personal quest and identity are also on display.
“Gentleness and poetic depiction of man and animal are the starting points for the project. I want to fight for freedom –for people, for their right to existence in society and also for my own right to existence.”
Dat Bolwerck
3 October – 5 January 2026
Zaadmarkt 112
7201 DE Zutphen
The exhibition is supported by Cultuurfonds Gelderland, Hendrik Mullerfonds and Nederlandse Spoorwegen.
My artist-in-residency in Arita, Japan is funded by Stimuleringsfonds and my artist practice is supported with the Artist-basic stipendium by Mondriaan Fonds.
Bas Kosters’ world – in two chapters – From place of birth to major retrospective
This autumn and the spring of next year, my autonomous work forms the focus of two solo exhibitions: in Dat Bolwerck, home to arts and thoughts, in my native Zutphen and in Rijksmuseum Twenthe in Enschede, the city where I laid the foundation for my artistic career at the AKI. Together, the two museums sketch a multifaceted portrait of me as an artist shaped by the world of fashion and now fully dedicated to creating autonomous visual works with a social significance.
The exhibitions complement each other in perspective and tone: from a personal and intimate narrative in Zutphen to a museum retrospective in Enschede. From October 2025 until June 2026, you are welcome to experience the world of Bas Kosters in its full breadth and depth – accessible, compelling and relevant.
