Bio

The paintings, graphic work, and installations of Jonat Deelstra (1991) are both narrative and alienating. His style is often categorized as magical realism. His works are about humanity trying to settle on planet Earth (and its sometimes pathetic failed attempts). How do people interact with each other and their environment? That’s what Deelstra is exploring in his visually compelling works of Deelstra. He works with bright colors and paints fluently. His style is inviting and accessible, but there is also an unspoken tension. As if something terrible is about to happen and we are on the verge of an all-changing event.

Deelstra feels like he’s in the eye of the storm: “Just like the generations before us, ours has a revolutionary character. We feel that we are at a crossroads in history. This feels like a big theater stage – we play our part in several global stories. Examples are the upcoming changes due to artificial intelligence, the nuclear threat, the rise of popular ultra-right and left-wing politicians, the climate crisis, etc. These stories are usually built around protagonists and antagonists. As long as I can tell myself that I'm on the right side and the other is the bad guy the world is pretty comprehensible. I try to show these stories in a new light and mix up these roles. I enrich myself by stepping out of the binary view of good and bad.” Deelstra works with themes such as migration, religion, identity, climate change, and death.

Museum shows:
Museumnacht - Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam (2022, Art Show)
Een gesloten paradijs - Museum Krona (Museum voor religieuze kunst) - Uden (2020, Group show)

Exhibitions:
Ceramic Brussels - Kraker van de Noordzee - Brussels (22 jan 2025, Art fair)
Ghosts in the foreign land - Mediametic - Amsterdam (17 nov 2024, group show)
Art Island - Kraker van de Noordzee - IJmuiden (26 mei 2024, Art fair)
No limits! Art castle - De grote keramiek show - Amsterdam (7 februari 2024, group show)
GoMulan Gallery - Amsterdam (8 maart 2024, Solo show)
PAN Amsterdam - Main Section - Amsterdam(2023 Art Fair)
GoMulan Gallery - Exhibition with Dion Rosina, Urike Rehm and Emilie Terlinden (2023 Group Show)
Ballroom Project - Art Weekend Antwerpen - Borgerhout(2023 Group Show)
Culture Nature - Huize Frankendael - Amsterdam(2023, Group Show)
This Art Fair - De Kromhouthallen - Amsterdam(2022, Art Fair)
Unknown Territories - De Vishal - Haarlem (2022, Group Show)
Uitvaartcentrum: De Noordzee - Research Centre Wageningen (2022, Educational Art Show)
Art Rotterdam - Duo show with Joran van Soest- Amsterdam(2022, Art Fair)
Painting present - ARWE Gallery - Gouda(2022, Group Show)
So Long - GoMulan Gallery - Amsterdam(2022, Group Show)
Art Rotterdam ‘22 - New Art Section (2022, kunstbeurs)
Big Art ’21 - Big Art Fair - Hembrug terrein (2021, Art Fair)
Duo Exhibition: Jonat Deelstra & Sophie Steengracht - GoMulan Gallery (2021, Group Show)
Art Rotterdam ‘21 - Solo show - New Art Section (2021, Art Fair)
My Mom is my Curator - NEUG - Mexico City (2021, Group Show)
Rituelen - GoMulan Gallery - Amsterdam (2021, Group Show)
Amsterdam Art Weekend - Capital C (2021, Art Fair)
Big Art ‘20 - Big Art Fair - Hembrug terrein (2020, Art Fair)
Dictatuur - GoMulan Gallery - Amsterdam (2020, Group Show)
Van Ostade Biënnale - Galerie Fleur & Wouter & GoMulan Gallery- Amsterdam (2020, Group Show)
Nacht van de VN - Pakhuis de Zwijger - Amsterdam (2019, Education, Group Show)
Jonat Deelstra Solo Exhibition - GoMulan Gallery - Amsterdam (2019, Solo Show)
Ijsheiligen - GinDs Hoofddorp (2019, Solo Show)
Legacy - GoMulan Gallery - Amsterdam (2018, Group Show)
Solo exhibition - Cinetol, Amsterdam (2018, Solo Show)
Trasher Studio opening - Amsterdam (2018, Solo Show)
Exposure HKU  - HKU Oudenoord, Utrecht (2017, Group Show)
Super T-Markt – Concertgebouw Amsterdam (2016, Group Show)
Traces of the wetsuitman – Academiegalerie, Utrecht (2016, Group Show)
Solo exhibition – Studio K, Amsterdam (2015, Solo Show)
Curare! - Amstelhaven, Amsterdam (2014, Group Show)
Vers Vlees 020 – The house of rising, Amsterdam (2013, Group Show)

Residencies:
European Ceramic Work Centre (EKWC) - Oisterwijk, The Netherlands (2023)
Arthouse Pani - Tequisquiapan, Mexico (2021)
Opium Atelier, NPO radio 4 - Hilversum, The Netherlands (2019)
BOGOTA - Halfweg, The Netherlands (2019)
GinDs - Hoofddorp, The Netherlands (2019)

Stipenia:
Jaap Harten Fonds - Publicatie (2023)
Mondriaan Fonds - Kunstenaar Project (2022)

Corporate Collections:
AkzoNobel
KPMG
Normec

Publications:
Museum of Ceramic Arts New York. - Highlights at Ceramic Brussels (2025)
Gallery viewer - Empatisch kunstenaar Jonat Deelstra brengt zijn nieuwste schilderijen in GoMulan Gallery (2024)
Harper’s Bazaar - Kijk dan! (2024)
Gallery viewer - Het atelier van… Jonat Deelstra - door Oscar van Gelderen (2023)
NH nieuws - Rapportage over Uitvaartcentrum: De Noordzee (2022)
Radio 1 België - live interview over Uitvaartcentrum: De Noordzee (2022)
Timur en Jorien - live interview 3FM over Uitvaartcentrum: De Noordzee (2022)
Museumtijdschrift - In het atelier van Jonat Deelstra (2021)
Tableau Magazine - Podium nieuw talent: Jonat Deelstra (2021)
Art Snap, mini-docu about my new project - Hogan Millar Productions (2021)
NH nieuws - Interview about ‘People’ (2021)
Radio Opium Radio 4 - audio rondleiding door Jonat Deelstra ‘Big Art Fair’ (2020)
Noord Hollands Dagblad ‘interview Jonat Deelstra Big Art Fair’ (2020)
Winq, ‘Big Art Fair’ (2020)
If Then is Now, ‘Walter van Teeffelen, ‘De wereld van de Amsterdamse kunstenaar, 72 - Jonat Deelstra’ (2020)
Paul Voors, Kunst blijft een Raadsel - Jonat Deelstra - People 2019
Paul Voors, Kunst blijft een Raadsel - De omfiets galerie
Emilie van Kinschot (Volkskrant) - Dit is de blik van een kunstenaar op Europa (2019)
Luuk Heezen - Kunst is Lang (2019)
Radio 4: Opium- Interview: Jonat Deelstra - Opuim radio 4 (2019)
Het Parool- ‘Deze galerie scout via de socials’ (2018)

Studies:
Bachelor of Design: Illustration – Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht (2013-2017)
Game Design – Mediacollege Amsterdam (2009-2013)

Books:
BorderLife - Written by Edwin Becker - Independently published (2023)
De Verre Vriend - Independently published (2017)
Dedicated to People - Independently published (2018)