Johannes (Jan-Willem Boer), born in The Netherlands, studied art at the renowned Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam under some of the most influential artists of this era, specializing in design and painting. He worked as an illustrator and designer for 40 years for more than 100 clients in both the USA and Europe, winning several awards for his outstanding work. Jan-Willem is a semi-realistic contemporary artist; working across mediums and disciplines. His paintings subvert traditional understandings of light and color through the nuanced application of reflective color and diverse shades of blue. He has exhibited widely in the US and abroad including solo exhibitions in Minneapolis, MN, Lancaster, PA, Lexington, VA, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He currently lives in Lexington, Virginia

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

My paintings are rooted in atmosphere. I am interested in the tension between darkness and light, abstraction and realism, stillness and motion. Reflective color, especially nuanced blues, plays a central role in creating mood and depth. Whether depicting a late-night drive, an empty road, or an urban landscape, I aim to evoke a sense of place that feels both familiar and slightly haunting.

For me, painting is about finding order, beauty, and emotion within everyday surroundings. I want viewers to slow down, enter the landscape, and discover their own memories and experiences within the work.