Peter Klashorst (born 1957 in Santpoort, the Netherlands) is a groundbreaking Dutch painter, sculptor, photographer and writer, whose career has been steeped in anarchy, expression and unbridled creativity. He is one of the most unpredictable and uncompromising artists of his generation, known for his raw, explosive style that embraces both classical techniques and street art.
Klashorst broke through in the 1980s as co-founder of the After Nature movement, breathing new life into painting at a time when conceptual art and abstraction were dominant. He returned to figuration, with a passionate love for portraits, nudes and street scenes, often painted with wild brushstrokes and vibrant colours. His work balances on the intersection of beauty and provocation, with influences from classical painting, but also from pop art, punk and urban culture.
His desire for freedom has taken him to the most turbulent places in the world: from the chaos of Bangkok and the vibrant nightlife of Phnom Penh to the rough streets of Dakar and the boisterous vibrancy of Africa. In Cambodia, he was arrested for ‘pornography’ because of his nude portraits, an experience that did not deter him, but rather reinforced his status as a fearless artist.
In addition to painting, Klashorst is a gifted photographer and writer, with his travels, encounters and adventures forming the common thread in his oeuvre. His work is direct, without filter and without concessions—a mirror of his reckless spirit. His portraits of prostitutes, musicians, street urchins and lost souls give voice to the underbelly of society, without judgement, but with deep empathy.
Klashorst lives and works as a nomad, detached from the conventions of the art world, while continuing to paint with the urgency of a man who knows that freedom is the highest good. His art is not a pleaser, not a smooth aesthetic, but an uncompromising cry from life itself.
