* All images used with permission. Please do not distribute without first contacting the artist.
Joram Roukes was born in 1983 in Lelystad, the Netherlands and currently working in a studio from Groningen. His works have been shown throughout Europe with shows in Copenhagen and London.
His large oil paintings are build-ups or collages of inner-city figures and characters. Blending multiple stylistic elements and references to subcultural groups or popular culture intricately in comprehensive and colorful compositions, the resulting figures try to put across a shaky view of today’s western society. Their messages are easily misunderstood or misinterpreted by the viewer, leaving them with a little bit to contemplate over, putting the pieces together. Ultimately, this enables the viewer to project his or her own points of view onto the paintings, have further dialog with it and perhaps even re-establish their position in current themes in society.
"Joram strikes a balance between chaos and order, abstract and realism, to capture the grotesque beauty of life. Watching him paint is as inspiring as it is humbling."
