Rogier Willems

Willems’ oeuvre predominantly consists of portraits rendered in the classical medium of oil paint.The subjects of his compositions are those who personally captivate him—individuals he holds in high regard or those who exert a magnetic allure.Willems is particularly drawn to the complexity and duality inherent within these individuals.Possessing an unconventional stance toward the conventional art scene, Willems rarely participates in exhibitions and maintains a natural resistance to commission-based work.His motivations for creating art are not driven by accolades or public recognition.Although he won the William Lock Prize for Best Portrait, awarded by the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 2025, and was long-listed twice for the BP Award by the National Portrait Gallery London, he finds himself more engaged with the journey of creation and the pursuit of artistic mastery. Recently, he was shortlisted for the Almenara Prize 2025 in Spain.The works of his fellow artists hold a special place in his heart, serving as both inspiration and a mirror reflecting his own artistic journey.For Willems, painting is synonymous with liberation—a process that offers boundless freedom and a platform to articulate his thoughts and emotions.He cherishes this personal exploration and maintains a sense of privacy around it, an approach that mirrors his personality and resonates with his artistic principles.Born in Dordrecht in 1969, Willems was raised and still lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.A self-taught painter, he worked for 25 years as a set designer for numerous theatre companies.For many years, he also served as an art teacher at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and at the Wackers Academy in Amsterdam.He previously worked in series with themes concerning politics and religion, but now focuses exclusively on portraits and nudes without additional narrative context.Willems frequently teaches abroad in Belgium, the UK, Portugal, Switzerland, and France.He lives and works near Amsterdam with his girlfriend and two young daughters.In his spacious studio, Studio Willems, he paints and teaches with the assistance of Pieternel Linssen, his business companion.