Tanja Ritterbex has been called the Lady Gaga of art. Exuberant in her work, Ritterbex is extremely aware of the huge influence that the internet has on young people in particular, and she plays with this in her professional practice. Ritterbex examines the boundless fascination of online culture with a healthy dose of humour and self-reflection. The subject of her colourful and expressive paintings and video art is often Ritterbex’s own body and life, with work that makes us think about who we are and what it means to make oneself vulnerable.
Born in 1985, Heerlen, The Netherlands
Lives and works in Berlin, Germany
EDUCATION
2002 – 2006
Academie Beeldende Kunsten, Maastricht, BA Fine Art (NL)
2005
Universidad de Belles Artes, Salamanca (ES)
2010 – 2014
Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (DE), Klasse Malerei bei der Prof. TAL R
2013 – 2015
De Ateliers, Amsterdam (NL)
RESIDENCIES / STIPENDS
2016
Bronner residency, Tel Aviv
2014
“Village uhnu”, Zimbabwe, Harare, Afrika. Painting/lecture.
2012
Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse (FR) coco-collection
Arbeiststipendium Künstlerhaus Cuxhaven (DE)
2008
EVBK Europäische Vereinigung Bildender Kunstler, Prüm (DE)
2007
Peter Stuyvesant College, Willemstad, Curaçao and trainee Instituto Buena
Bista, Curaçao, with David Bade
2006
Hotel Maria Kapel (Danielle van Zuijlen en Bart Lodewijks),
kunstenaarsinitiatief te Hoorn, Kunstvlaai Amsterdam
AWARDS / NOMINATIONS
2018-2022
Fund for established artist by Mondriaan Fund
2016
Koninklijke prijs voor de vrije schilderkunst, Royal Palace, Amsterdam. (winner)
2015
Koninklijke prijs voor de vrije schilderkunst, Royal Palace, Amsterdam. (nominated)
2014
Koninklijke prijs voor de vrije schilderkunst, Royal Palace, Amsterdam. (nominated)
2013
Hermine van Bers Beeldende Kunstprijs; first Price.
2011
Limburg Provincie Cultuur Prijs cat. Jong Talent.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
My nipple in her mouth, Althuis Hofland Fine Arts, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2021
Richterbecher, sculpture project at Simpelveld/Bocholtz, The Netherlands
2019
Free the Eyeball, Nest, The Hague, The Netherlands
2018
Møbler Huser Tanja, Galleri Lb, Copenhagen, Denmark
Ego show, Ornis A. Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2016
Art Rotterdam, solo booth, Ornis A. Gallery
Tanja Ritterbex, DSM Art Collection, Sittard
2015
I thought I could be an artist, Ornis A. Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Amsterdam Art Weekend)
Dsm, Heerlen, The Netherlands
2014
Pornography is like sciencefiction, Lenssen exhibitions, drawings, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2013
I like it loud, Kuepers Art, Heerlen, The Netherlands
2012
Moin Moin, Künstlerhaus Cuxhaven, Germany
2011
Do women want to be rescued?, Kunsthuis Theo Hübens, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Een afscheid met zelfportretten, Mathieu Bruls Architecten, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2010
‘Luchtje scheppen’, Atrium MC Ziekenhuis, Heerlen, The Netherlands
‘Vasteloavend in Limburg’, Gouvernement, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2008
Welcome at the Princess Party, Odapark, Venray, The Netherlands
2006
Nijmegen kunstenaarsinitiatief Extrapool + design poster, The Netherlands
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Grenzeloos en vrij, Cobra Museum, Amstelveen, The Netherlands
Celesticore, Breach Miami, Miami, Florida
Halbschattenkabinett, Galerie Kramer, Bremen, Germany
Into distance, Kunsthaus Essen, Essen, Germany
2022
Draw the line, Kunstpodium, Tilburg, The Netherlands
My Food Project, LAM Museum, Lisse, The Netherlands
Le dernier combat, Willem Twee Kunstruimte, Den Bosch, The Netherlands
Uterus Series, Althuis Hofland Fine Arts, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2021
Rotary International and Sotheby’s Auction
Vagina Picknick, Marres, Maastricht, The Netherlands
ING collection for NS pop-up exhibition, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
FELD Malerlei, curated by Jena Jedermann, Germany
Onkruid, Pand Heelen, Heerlen, The Netherlands
Mirror/Mirror, Kunsthal Kade, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
My Mother’s Daughter, SEA Foundation, Tilburg, The Netherlands
2020
Limburg Biënnale, Marres, Maastricht (Jury member)
MENSBEELD, painters show with Helen Verhoeven, Marlene Dumas, Marie Aly, Judith Kissner, Raquel van Haver, Tanja Ritterbex, Marc Mulders, Eli Content, Rik Meijers, Maaike Schoorel, Natasja Kensmil, Jana van Meerveld, Hanan Klei, Wieske Wester, Sarah Verbeek, Iris Kensmil, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam
Art Rotterdam, Althuis Hofland Fine Arts, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2019
Van selfie tot zelfbeeld, Bureau Europa, Maastricht
depARTment STORE, Schunck, Heerlen, The Netherlands
Der Rausch, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Beating time, Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, The Netherlands
What’s new, Heden, The Hague, The Netherlands
2018
Out of Office, Singer Museum, Laren, The Netherlands
De Kersentuin, Kunst Rai Art, Kers Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Weil ich ein Mädchen bin, Odapark, Venray, The Netherlands
Wurst Käse Scenario, Kunstplatform De Apotheek, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
En Piste!, Musee La Boverie, Liège, Belgium
Space Collection, opening Elisabeth Strouven Fonds, Maastricht/Luik, The Netherlands/Belgium
Le (bon) bon Napoleon, provinciehuis Haarlem, The Netherlands
2017
Kunst 24, Art Platform, Berlin, Germany
We Like Art, Pop Up Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Desperate to be a housewife with Christmas, Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen, The Netherland
Vol.5 Canard a sans, Sans Titre, Paris, France
The painted bird, Marres, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Illusie en openbaring uit de collectie van het Bonnefantenmuseum, Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Het zalig niets doen, Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen, The Netherlands
2016
Made in Amsterdam, Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam
Art cologne group show organized by Jan Pleitner and Bruce Haines gallery, Cologne, Germany
2015
From a painter’s perspective 2, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam
Showroom Mama, Rotterdam, The Netherlands with Steye Felix (Duo)
Florian kuhlman project space Düsseldorf, Germany with Isabella Fürnkäs (Duo)
Function creep, curator Xander Karskens, Offspring2015, De Ateliers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
All togheter now, curated by Gerben Willers Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Today I am, Lucias Pax and Tanja Ritterbex, World Trade Center The Hague, The Netherlands (Duo)
‘4 bid’ we just stole it from the internet, Isabella Fürnkas en Tanja Ritterbex video installation
‘Anningahof’ de antropoloog en het onverschrokken meisje , Zwolle Chaim van Luit en Tanja Ritterbex
2014
Beating around the bush, Bonnefanten museum Maastricht, The Netherlands
To good to be true, cfa berlin, Berlin, Germany
Project NH Bienale in samenwerking met david bade, beelden op water, Alkmaar, The Netherlands
Boost, CBK A’dam, georganiseerd; Bob Konsten, art foundation Bougie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
In one piece, Kunstour 2014 Maastricht, b2b ontwerpbureau, basin 108
Elefantsnabel, curator: Mads Andreassen. Storgata 164, 2615 Lillehammer, Norway
PIGDOGANDMONKEYFESTOS 1, London, group exhibition, curated by Shaun Doyle and Mally Mallinson, Airspace – gallery, London, UK
Kick-start Düsseldorfer akademie class Tal R, W139 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2013
Baustelle Schaustelle, Off-Raum für junge Kunst, Essen, Germany
Secretly gold fever, Mainzer Volksbank eG, Mainz, Germany
Black box, curator Anna Lene Meisenberg, Düsseldorf, Germany
In-Discipline, with Atelier van Lieshout, Michiel Ceulers, Priscilla Fernandez, Ives Maes, Andreas Schmitten, Bonnefanten Roermond, The Netherlands
Art Spektrum, Theater museum Düsseldorf, Germany
Rundgang Akademie Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
Wer nicht denken will fliegt raus, Odapark, Venray, The Netherlands
Body light, Off-Space Venus & Apollo of Julia Stoschek Collection Düsseldorf. Curators: Isabella Fürnkäs, Melike Kara
2012
Secret post cards, Jan van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Double trouble, class exhibition Tal R, Hamburg, Germany
Feromenon, Filmwerkstatt Düsseldorf, Germany
Ban über Mord, Galerie Voss, Düsseldorf, Germany
MISCELLANEOUS, Galerie Wilms, Venlo, The Netherlands
Schon Reich Erfolgreich, Ausstellungsraum Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Germany
Self-portrait as Ave Maria, Kunstdagen Wittem, The Netherlands
2011
Haventor 7, class exhibition of Tal R, Hamburg, Germany
Kunstroute plateau Margraten, Galerie Wanda Reiff, Bemelen, The Netherlands
A new face, curator: Jolanda Bovens, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Edition 1 PIGDOGANDMONKEYFESTOS, Shaun Doyle and Mally Mallinson. London, UK
Baumhaus, Foundation Union By Fiction i.c.w. cultural institutions Vaals, Maastricht, Aachen and Liège
Group show, Greylight Projects, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands
2010
Vrouwen in beeld, Museum v/d vrouw, curator: L. van Beusekom
Pecha Kucha, presentation at Ainsi Maastricht, The Netherlands
Knuffel boom, Festival Jong! Theater aan het Vrijthof, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Homie power sweet and sour, Laagland Theater & Het Domein, Sittard, The Netherlands
S. P. A. C. E., MAMAC Contemporary Art Museum, Liège, Belgium
2009
Zonnetempel, Artipoli Gallery, Noorden, The Netherlands
Vlakwater manifestatie, Odapark, Venray, The Netherlands
Fashionclash, Event, Timmerfabriek, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2008
Glocal affairs, Huis vd Kunsten Limburg, Timmerfabriek, Maastricht, The Netherlands
EVBK Europäische Vereinigung Bildender Künstler, Prüm, Duitsland
Göhltalmuseum i.c.w. Ludwig Forum Aachen, curator: Dr. Adam C. Oellers
2007
Rock My Religion, manifestation Odapark, Venray, The Netherlands
2005
Project at Jan van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2004
Tanja Ritterbex (NL) en Cezar Diez (ES), Galerie HAF, Maastricht, The Netherlands (Duo)
2003
Kunst in der city, Heinsberg, Germany
PERFORMANCES
2023
Die spirituelle Verbindung mit meinem inneren Kind, Kunthaus Essen, Essen, Germany
2022
Zen with Tanja, Willem Twee Kunstruimte, Den Bosch, The Netherlands
Rosa Märchen von Künstlichen Intelligenz, machen Maschinen dümmer und Menschen schlauer, Schrittmacher Festival, Heerlen, The Netherlands
Burning Urge, Murf/Murw Festival, Tilburg, The Netherlands
2021
Catch 22, Schrittmacher Festival, Heerlen, The Netherlands
2019
How to make schwarma at home, Lustwarande, Brief Encounters ’19 #2, Tilburg, The Netherlands
How to make schwarma at home, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2018
If loneliness was a color it would be grey, Odapark Center for Contemporary Art, Venray, The Netherlands
Dreaming Awake, Sphinx, organised by Marres, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2017
Body Highlighter 2, Museum Schunck, Heerlen, The Netherlands
2016
About unborn Babies and Aliensex, Comedy Club, Berlin, Germany
To avoid likes and dislikes, Rotterdam Art, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Body Highlighter 2, Museum Schunck, Heerlen, The Netherlands
2015
Bare Beaver, host by Admre Kamudzengerere, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
I Would Die For You, Faktor 44, Antwerp, Belgium
Taka Taka Tanja, W139, Club Church, Club Occi, Blauwe Theehuis and Milkshake Festival, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Sugar_Candy_Daddy with Kun Fang and David van de Pitte during Amsterdam Art Weekend, Ornis A. Gallery, Amsterdam The Netherlands
It’s About The Space Between You, Me and The Galaxy, Offspring 2015, De Ateliers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2014
You are a Ghost, Düsseldorfer Gerresheimer Bahnhof, Düsseldorf, Germany
Mama geef me je make up, Different performances in gayclub; Church Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Bare beaver, Admre Kamudzengerere Amsterdam, The Netherlands
TA TA TASCHUKI, performance in blauwe theehuis, Vondelpark, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2013
You are a Ghost (VOL.II) performance at FFT Theater, Düsseldorf, Germany
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Lisser Art Museum, Lisse, The Netherlands (private museum of D. van der Broek)
Schunck museum, Heerlen, The Netherlands
De Nederlandsche Bank Collection
ING collection
DSM Collection
APG Collection
Leidsche Universitair Medisch Centrum (LUMC) collection
Zuyderland collection, Heerlen, The Netherlands
Various private collections a.o. Sanders Collection