de Kooning, Willem, 1904-97, American painter, b. Netherlands; studied Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts and Techniques. De Kooning immigrated to the United States, arriving as a stowaway in 1926 and settling in New York City, where he worked on the Federal Arts Project (1935). He began experiments with abstraction as early as 1928, but continued to produce realistic paintings throughout the 1930s. Influenced by Arshile Gorky, de Kooning forged a powerful abstract style and in the 1940s became a leader of abstract expressionism. In his monumental series of the early 1950s entitled Woman, he reintroduced a representational element. Woman I (1951-52; Mus. of Modern Art, New York City), with its startling ferocity, brought him considerable notice and some notoriety. He later reverted chiefly to nonfigurative work. During the 1960s he also produced more paintings of women as well as many works with landscape elements, and in the 1970s he created a dazzling group of painterly abstractions.

Slashed with color amd formed with eloquent brushstrokes, de Kooning's often huge canvases are improvisationally executed and charged with great energy; many are widely considered masterpieces of the abstract expressionist movement. His late work (1980-1990) has been the subject of some controversy. Although increasingly affected by Alzheimer's disease during this decade, he produced an impressive body of work, hundreds of large canvases in elegantly composed configurations, their elements pared down, their limited colors forming sinuously intertwining ribbons. In some sense, de Kooning's art had outlived his conscious mind as he continued to create beautifully simplified works of art. He finally stopped painting in mid-1990. He was married to the painter Elaine Fried de Kooning (1920-1989).

The Willem de Kooning Academy is a Dutch Academy of art and design based in Rotterdam and named in memory of the famous Dutch artist Willem de Kooning.

Overview

The Willem de Kooning Academy is the artschool of Rotterdam and part of the Hogeschool Rotterdam, a university of applied sciences. It is regarded as one of the most prestigious artschools in the country and the number 1 in Advertising and Copywriting.

The Academy, in the past Academie van Beeldende Kunsten (Academy of Visual Arts), carries the name of alumni Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) since 1998 in honour of the artist. Willem de Kooning was born in north Rotterdam and graduated in Decoration Art (now Styling). He left to New York at the age of 22, and there developed himself as a frontman of the Abstract Expressionism painting movement of the 1940's and 1950's.

Part of the Academy is the Piet Zwart Institute, which houses the postgraduate programmes. That part is named after faculty alumnus Piet Zwart (1885-1977), who in the 1920 designed all kinds of things: stamps, print advertising, books, interiors, furniture (including the Bruynzeel kitchen) and also spent a huge amount of time photographing and painting. He has been officially awarded the title Dutch Designer of the 20th Century.

The Academy is proud of De Kooning and Zwart, two artists who were far ahead of time and broke through the boundaries of fine art and styling, and inspires every artist at the Academy, both students and faculty.

History of the Academy

• 1781 Rotterdamse Academie
• 1822 Stadstekenschool voor de Bouwkunde
• 1832 Volksindustrieschool
• 1851 Academie van Beeldende Kunsten en Technische Wetenschappen
• 1970 Academie van Beeldende Kunsten
• 1998 Willem de Kooning Academie

Although the namechanges the Academy is widely known as the Rotterdamse Academie till 1998.

The Programmes

The Academy undergraduate faculty consist of 12 fulltime and 4 parttime programmes leading to a BA degree. The fulltime programmes: Animation, Fine Art, AudioVisual, Advertising, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interactive Multimedia, Interior Design, Lifestyle, Fashion Design, Digital Photography and Teacher's Program. The parttime programmes: Teacher's Program, Styling, Visual Communication and Graphic and Drawing.

In the 5th and 6th semester (3rd year) students choose their minor, which can be a specialization or differentiation depending on the major. Student can choose a minor offered by the entire university, or choose one of the Academy minors, which are: Art and the City, 3D Computer Graphics, Copywriting, Forecast and Creative Marketing, Photography, Identity, Art Education in Practice, Art Theory, Brands and Packaging, Motion Graphics, Digital Media Design, Open Project Atelier, Products and Concepts, Editorial Design, Painting, Collection, Graphics, Internet Documentary, Presentation, Environmental Communication and Textiles.

The Piet Zwart Institute consist of 3 fulltime postgraduate programmes leading to an MA degree: Fine Art, Interior Design and Media Design. These programmes are regarded as rigorous and the Institute is highly selective with each of the programmes only admitting 10-12 student annually.

Location

The Willem de Kooning Academy is located at Blaak 10 and Wijnhaven 61, two adherent buildings connected with an airbridge. Blaak 10 has always been regarded as the 'home base' of the Academy. Due to expansion and increase of students enrolling, the adherent Hogeschool Rotterdam building behind, Wijnhaven 61 where the Academy already occupied classrooms, will be entirely Academy starting September 2007. Also, the already existing program Leisure Management, will move to the Academy campus.

Young Talents

The Academy is regarded the number 1 in Advertising and Copywriting, as many alumna have been responsible for creating some of the most successful advertisements and campaigns in the country and outside. Students participate with national and international contests related to the arts and many participate beyond their own program. Stichting Jaarprijzen Personeelcommunicatie (SJP), a foundation founded to improve recruiting advertisements, yearly awards individuals and companies, for creating the best advertisement. Since 1999 also students are encouraged to join and this has led to the estabelishment of the Jong Talent (young talent) Awards, with 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize, and Honorary Notice.

Since 1999, Academy students received Honorary Notices in all years. And with the exception of 2005, Willem de Kooning Academy students have won Jong Talent Awards every year, often more than 1 prize. In 2003 it claimed all 3 prizes.

Notable Alumni (faculty and students)

• Henk de Bouter (Driebergen-Rijsenburg, 1968)

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henk_de_Bouter

• Michiel Brinkman (1873-1925)
• Lieven De Cauter (1959)
• Wim Chabot (1907-1977)
• Simone Dettmeijer (1944)
• Kees van Dongen (1877-1968)
• Frans van Eijk (1938)
• Barend Hooijkaas jr. (1855-1934)
• Willem Hussem (1900-1974)
• Clazien Immink (1946)
• Willem de Kooning (1904-1997)
• Cor Kraat (1946)
• Herman van der Kloot Meijburg (1875-1961)
• Bram Moerland (1939)
• Joep van Lieshout (1963)
• Arend Odé (1865-1955)
• Charles Rochussen (1814-1894)
• J.C.J. van Schagen (1891-1985)
• Kees Torn (1967)
• Petrus van der Velden (1837-1913)
• Willem van Veldhuizen (1954)
• Anton Vrede (1953)
• Leo Vroegindeweij (1955)
• Fiep Westendorp (1916-2004)
• Piet Zwart (1885-1977)

External links

• Willem de Kooning Academy
• Piet Zwart Institute
• History of The Academy (in Dutch)
• SJP Young Talent Awards(in Dutch)
• Prestigious Artschool(in Dutch)