Matthew Wong's first European survey pairs 62 paintings with six Van Gogh works at Amsterdam museum
"Painting as a Last Resort," the inaugural European exhibition of Chinese-Canadian artist Matthew Wong, is currently on display at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Featuring 62 of Wong's canvases alongside six pieces by Vincent van Gogh, the show highlights Wong's artistic journey from Postimpressionism to his more personal style. Wong, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 35, began his painting career in 2011 after pursuing studies in anthropology and photography. Notable works include "Valley" from 2014 and "Untitled" from 2015. While recognized as an outsider artist, Wong had mixed feelings about that label. The exhibition runs until September 1, thematically organizing works without direct comparisons to Van Gogh.
Key facts
- Matthew Wong's first European survey exhibition features 62 of his paintings
- Six works by Vincent van Gogh are included in the exhibition
- The exhibition runs through September 1 at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
- Matthew Wong died in 2019 at age 35 after beginning painting around 2011
- Wong studied anthropology and earned a master's in photography before turning to painting
- White Columns director Matthew Higgs helped position Wong as an outsider artist
- The exhibition is part of a series pairing Van Gogh with contemporary artists
- Wong's work shows influences from Postimpressionism, de Kooning, and Joan Mitchell
Entities
Artists
- Matthew Wong
- Vincent van Gogh
- de Kooning
- Joan Mitchell
- Forrest Bess
- Alex Katz
Institutions
- Van Gogh Museum
- White Columns
Locations
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands