Paul Insect: Personal Effects

Paul Insect: Personal Effects

Paul Insect arrives in Amsterdam.

2 min read

'Personal Effects'

18th November – 2nd December 2021
Lauriergracht 142
1016 RT Amsterdam

Thursday 18th November: 14:00–18:00
Tuesday–Saturday: 12:00–18:00
Sunday–Monday: Closed

'Personal Effects' gathers the results of more than a year lived between novel circumstance and old routine, and attests the self-sustained appetite for experiment found in the studio of an art world maverick. New paintings and sculptures appear alongside their associated effects, effects which – from jig dolls and studio debris to video snippets and polaroid frames – act at once as reference, document and artwork.

If you're interested in acquiring an original work from the show, send us an email!

Not a lot changed for me working during the pandemic, other than the phone not ringing all the time. I work alone in my studio, always have done, and continued to do so through lockdown. 'Personal Effects' is a culmination of work from that quiet time. A series of polaroids document the making of various works – large paintings, sculptures and videos. I've always seen myself as a multidisciplinary artist, I enjoy working with all forms and materials, collaging them like ideas, and this show touches on some of those interests.

Paul Insect

Our first show in Amsterdam

Representing our first show in the city where Avant Arte began, 'Personal Effects' takes place on Amsterdam's Lauriergracht, a street with its own rich history for both artists and collectors – from Rembrant’s protégé Govaert Flink to noted impressionist George Hendrik Breitner.

Behind the scenes

Visits to Paul's studio in the months preceding the show provide an unprecdented view of his practice, culminating in an exhibition film combining footage by photographer and videographer Tim Craig with content from the artist's own extensive archives – screened within the exhibition and now also available to watch online.

Accompanying editions

Created in tandem with original works for the show and released to coincide with its opening, Cosmodela and Cosmodela (Duponti) are a pair of intricately-crafted screenprint editions finished with metallic ink, diamond dust, gold glitter and high-gloss varnish highlights.

Credits

Exhibition video by Tim Craig with additional footage provided by Paul Insect. Courtesy of the artist, Tim Craig and Avant Arte.

Studio Images by Tim Craig and Paul Insect. Courtesy of the artist, Tim Craig and Avant Arte.

Installation images by Jonathan de Waart. Courtesy of Jonathan de Waart and Avant Arte.


More in this series

Bold white text on a red background reads, "Who is the new generation reshaping the art world?" with blurred figures in the background.
essay

New Generation Survey 2026

Why they collect, their relationship with institutions, and why it matters

detail of a silkscreen print by Ai Weiwei
article

Ai Weiwei: Decoded

A guide to the symbols at play in a divine self portrait by Ai Weiwei.

4 min read
Devon Shimoyama in Pittsburg
guide

Devan Shimoyama in Pittsburgh

From the Warhol Museum to Croatian murals, Devan Shimoyama shows us why Pittsburgh deserves a spot on any American art pilgrimage.

4 min read
Tyler Hobbs leaning down to write on a work surface
interview

In conversation: Tyler Hobbs

"Can I write a program that creates a painting?"

5 min read

Insightful?

Insightful?

Subscribe to the Avant Arte newsletter for the art world in your inbox.


Discover more insights

Linda Dounia: Amplifying the Self
essay

Linda Dounia – Amplifying the self

Linda Dounia is a Senegalese artist working with generative systems to create art that challenges the tech status quo. Her abstract artworks are based on extensive research into various ecologies.

3 min read
Black and white photo of Artist Emanoel Araújo
00:59
video

Emanoel Araújo

Emanoel Araújo has many legacies. In this Artist’s Artist, we take a look at some of his greatest works of art and curation.

2 min read
Artist Barry McGee
00:56
video

Barry McGee

This iconic artist has been doing graffiti for over 40 years. World-class museums and galleries revere his work, but he’s never stopped tagging the streets.

2 min read
Artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess stands next to a tall blue vase with gold elephant heads, wearing a white dress, holding a walking stick
00:59
article

Magdalena Suarez Frimkess

Discover seven spellbinding decades of mischievous cartoon ceramics by Venezuelan artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess.