about

Statement

My sculptures are inspired by the often-overlooked details of daily life. Through minimalistic and rhythmic designs, I seek to reveal a hidden vitality and a silent playfulness that exists beneath the surface of the ordinary. By using simple materials and an almost monochrome color palette, I emphasize the essence of form and texture. A minimalist approach encourages deeper engagement with the intrinsic qualities of the materials, highlighting their raw beauty while embracing simplicity and purity.

I am drawn to visual puns and playful reinterpretations of familiar scenes, challenging conventional expectations and offering new perspectives. My work explores themes of urban landscapes, human emotions, dystopia, and rebellion—expressed through disorder and disintegration. By deconstructing the expected, I investigate the tension between chaos and structure, uncovering hidden narratives within fragmented realities.

At the heart of my work is an exploration of abstraction as a visual language. This journey is about translating the invisible into the visible—communicating emotions, ideas, and atmospheres beyond direct representation. The minimalist principle “Less is more” is central to my process, alongside the philosophy of Wabi-sabi, which embraces imperfection, impermanence, and the beauty of the incomplete. My approach is intuitive and associative, allowing spontaneity to shape the search for the essence of an image.

Through my sculptures, I aim to create spaces for quiet reflection, where the interplay of form, texture, and meaning invites viewers to engage in their own interpretations. By stripping elements down to their fundamental state, I seek to uncover a deeper, often overlooked poetry within everyday life.

Inspiration comes for instance from Jan Schoonhoven’s reliefs and the works of Richard Tuttle and Richard Francisco whose works contain even more a certain vulnerability or “humbleness”.

Photo: Rogier Veldman

Bio

Charlie Kater (1970, Venlo, The Netherlands). Lives and works in Hilversum, The Netherlands.

Education:

  • 1994-1998 Bachelor of sculpture at AKI Academie voor Kunst en Industrie in Enschede, NL
  • 1997 International fine arts exchange program at University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
  • 2002-2004 Bachelor of Education in Visual Arts & Design (With Honours) at Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht, NL
  • 2020 Member of Artists’ Association Kunstenaarsvereniging Laren Blaricum NL
  • 2024 Member of Artists’ Association Vereniging van beeldend kunstenaars Maatschappij Arti et Amicitiae in Amsterdam, NL

Solo exhibitions:

  • 2024 18 pieces at VDHP Exposities, Amsterdam NL
  • 2023 There is more different than it seems to be, Achter de Ramen, Amsterdam NL
  • 2020 Achter de Ramen, Amsterdam NL
  • 2018 I try to keep up with the rhythm, Atelier P68, Amersfoort NL

Group exhibitions:

  • 2025 “BLAUW” with KV Laren Blaricum, Kasteel Groeneveld, Baarn NL
  • 2025 “PLAYGROUND TWIST” with Uzine Park, De Bouwput, Amsterdam NL
  • 2025 “UPDATE” Arti et Amicitae, Amsterdam NL
  • 2024 Salon Arti et Amicitae, Amsterdam ML
  • 2024 Hectobar 30.0 (Pop-up sale/swap event curated by V&B), Galerie Heejsteck, Utrecht NL
  • 2024 Onze Wereld, KV Laren /Blaricum, Kerk, Johanneskerk Laren NL
  • 2024 Hectobar 28.0 (Pop-up sale/swap event curated by V&B), Galerie Heejsteck, Utrecht NL
  • 2023 Hectobar 26.0 (Pop-up sale/swap event curated by V&B), Galerie Heejsteck, Utrecht NL
  • 2023 Mooi is anders, KV Laren /Blaricum, Rosa Spierhuis, Laren NL
  • 2022-23 Maquette (curated by Robert Moon), No Show Space Gallery, London UK
  • 2022 100 years KV Laren /Blaricum, Singer Museum Laren NL
  • 2021 Fluffycrimes,- Show #7, Mana Contemporary Art Center Chicago ILL. USA
  • 2021 Herontdekkingen with KV Laren /Blaricum, Kasteel Groeneveld, Baarn NL 
  • 2020 Laureatensalon KPSK, Kasteel Cortewalle, Beveren BE
  • 2019 With Jan de Ruyter at Zaansgroen Gallery, Zaandam NL
  • 2019 Prize Piet Staut, Kasteel Cortewalle, Beveren BE
  • 2019 Kunstkijkroute Amersfoort, Amersfoort NL
  • 1998 AKI Finals Sculpture, Kunstvereniging Diepenheim NL

Publications:

  • “Maquette”, Catalogue 2022 by Robert Moon
  • “Verenigde Solisten, 100 jaar vereniging van Beeldende kunstenaars Laten-Blaricum” door Peter C.L. van der Ploeg, 2022 ISBN 9789090363790

Collections:

  • Private collections

Prizes:

  • 2019: Prijs Piet Staut: 2nd prize, BE