Place of Birth: Amsterdam
Country: Netherlands
Profession: Freelance Graphic Designer, Illustrator, (Spray) Painter, and DJ
Company: Zender Industries / Zender Inc / KGB
Biography:
I embarked on my artistic journey at the age of thirteen as a graffiti artist, which introduced me to the visual arts. Over time, I honed my skills and secured various commercial projects, illustration assignments, and painting jobs. A significant milestone occurred in 1999 when I collaborated with a fellow artist from the Dutch graffiti scene, Delta, to spray-paint the Singel Studio, measuring 37 x 11 meters. Around this time, I participated in a group exhibition titled "Post Graffiti," which garnered considerable public attention.
Recognizing my interest in graphic design, I decided to deepen my knowledge in this field. By the end of that year, I moved to Los Angeles, where I interned at a small design studio, gaining valuable experience in computer graphics and design processes. Upon returning to Amsterdam, I was commissioned by The Mazzo Nightclub to create a mural, enlisting the help of my longtime friend Christiaan Dros. The success of this exhibition led us to establish our own illustration company, "Zender & Chaos." During our collaboration, we produced a substantial volume of illustrations and backdrops for the nightlife industry, painted a coffee shop called Global Chillage, and worked on a nightclub project in Spain. We also created numerous illustrations for an art agency known as Shop Around until our professional paths diverged, prompting me to pursue freelance work.
Initially, I focused on graphic design projects for Boomerang, a company that specializes in producing free postcards. This experience helped me understand the workings of the graphic industry in the Netherlands. Today, I continue to work as a freelance graphic designer and, along with two other freelance artists, co-founded a small company named KGB (Kreativ Graphic Buro), where we serve a variety of clients. Additionally, I am represented by Artbox, a Creative Art Agency.
In parallel with my graphic design career, I have a passion for music, serving as a DJ and organizing Rendez-Vous events aimed at fostering creativity.
Exhibitions – Shows:
- 1994: "Seymore Likely Sprays" - Jan Jonker Gallery / Amsterdam (Zender)
- 1995: "Zender & Chaos" - Mazzo Nightclub / Amsterdam (Chaos, Zender)
- 1995: "Benefit for Bosnia" - Café 't Schuim / Amsterdam (72 different artists)
- 1995: "Post Graffiti" - Total Art Gallery / Amsterdam (Angel, Delta, Shoe, Zender)
- 1997: "Total Art Fair" - Turfschip / Breda (Chaos, Delta, Kobalt60, Zedz, Zender)
- 1998: "Pop in Beeld" - Noord Brabants Museum / Den Bosch (many different artists)
- 1998: "Stripdagen" - Haarlem (Chaos, Zender)
- 2000: "Cozmik" - Fietsfabriek / Haarlem (Shamrock, Subalpin, Selfinflicted, Zender)
- 2001: "Drum Expo" - Westergasfabriek - Café de Duivel / Amsterdam (Zedz, Oase, Zender)
- 2001: "In Holland Staat een Piece" - Go Gallery / Amsterdam (many different artists)
- 2003: "Random" - Go Gallery / Amsterdam (Think Again, London Police, Out of Order, Zender)
- 2003: "Openhavenfestival" - Amsterdam (The London Police, Zender)
- 2003: "Art in the Streets" - Hoofddorp (Cosh, Dubs, Jerk, Zender)
- 2003: "Zender Industries Xpo" - Nightclub Panama / Amsterdam
- 2004: "The Appelsap Experience" - Hotel Arena / Amsterdam (Brush, Zender)
- 2004: "YIP" - Young in Prison - Paradiso / Amsterdam (many different artists)
- 2004: "Street Expo" - Wolvenstraat / Amsterdam (Zedz, Zender)
- 2004: "Bacardi Batbeats" - Las Palmas / Rotterdam (Zedz, D-Virus, Dubs, DHM, Zender)
- 2005: "YIP" - Young in Prison - Odeon / Amsterdam (many different artists)
- 2005: "Pink-Pop" - Heineken (many different artists)
Worked For:
3FM, Absolutely Independent, Adodisc, Alek, Alles in Wonderland, America Today, Artvice, Basic Groove Magazine, Barkers, Beats Included, Blueroom, Brown Bag, Blijburg, Blvd Magazine, Boomerang, Brand Events, Bridge ADMP, Call TV, Camel, Cineteam, Cineac, Chemistry, Chocolat Bar, Circus Hoffman, Club Arena Nightclub, Club-Red Nightclub, Coca-Cola, Converse, Cozmik Theater, Dansen bij Jansen Nightclub, Diesel Jeans, Djax Records, Drum (Expo), Elevation, Eurogreenmix, Far Out T-Shirts, Footlocker, Fresh Cotton, Garp Group, Getaway, Global Chillage, Grapes, Guess Jeans, Hak, Hectic Illusions [MOOR], Heineken, Hemkade, Hewlett Packard, Huis en Hypotheek Magazine, Ibiza 24-7, ID&T, Immortal Sound Production (ISP), Impiric, Jimmy Woo, J's Reality, Junior Academie, Kepp, Kinderpostzegels, De Klezmer Band, KPMG, Krasloterij, Kronan, Lust Het Leven, Made in the Shade, Mazzo Nightclub, Meervaart, Megafestatie, Melkweg Nightclub, Mevius & Italiaander, MTV, Musk Discotheek, New Frontier, New Metropolis, NS, Nuon, Oilly, O'Neill, Outland Records, Paradiso Nightclub, Pepsi Cola, Philippe van den Hurk, Philips, Postbank, Praxis, Preview Magazine, PTT (Hi), Publicis, Q-Dance, Red Bull, Revert, Riksteatern, Roger Sanchez, Samson, SBS, Seymore Likely, Shell, Shift Magazine, Sjerpa Magazine, Stadspas, Stealth Records, Stichting Sail Amsterdam, Stille T-Shirt Shop, Torch Magazine, Trigger Media, Universal, Uphonic Records, USSR, Vengaboys, Vincent Kruijt, VodkaBar, Ministerie VROM, Wasteland, www.lastminute.nl.