Ruud Kuijer
23 May 2026 - 4 October 2026
In the summer of 2026, we present 16 works by Ruud Kuijer in the Rietveld Pavilion in the sculpture garden. The large sculptures made of concrete and steel are shown to full advantage in the subtle play of light in the pavilion. It is as if the artworks and the architecture are engaged in conversation.
Standing, lying, hanging, leaning
Ruud Kuijer (Schalkwijk, 1959) lives and works in Utrecht. He creates sculptures from raw materials such as concrete and steel. His sculptures are the result of playing with the shapes and structures of recognisable forms such as H-beams, concrete mesh or ‘springs’. Kuijer always strives to get to the essence of what sculpture is. His work revolves around how something stands, lies, hangs or leans.
Ruud Kuijer, Large H-beam Piece 8 (no. 435), 2019, photo: Rob Versluys
The Rietveld Pavilion
Gerrit Rietveld (1888–1964) designed the Rietveld Pavilion for sculptures during the Sonsbeek 55 International Sculpture Exhibition (Internationale Beeldententoonstelling Sonsbeek 55) in Arnhem. It has served as an outdoor gallery in our sculpture garden since 1964, displaying sculptures from the Kröller-Müller collection. These sculptures are now temporarily making way for Kuijer's work.
The horizontal and vertical sections of the pavilion are positioned in such a way that the architecture and sculptures reinforce each other. Kuijer's work is shown to full advantage in the open space and the subtle play of light in the pavilion. It is as if Kuijer's sculptures and Rietveld's architecture are engaged in conversation. This allows you to experience the sculptures and space as one.
