Main Artistduo

There they are, in their studio, covered by aprons and welding jackets, welding masks, welder’s goggles and earmuffs, bending over steel.

Particles of dust and sparks of light everywhere. The cold, hard, raw and rigid material is being transformed into a form, a sculpture. When ready it’s not just a sculpture hanging on the wall.

It comes towards you, supported by the ever-changing play of shadow and light.
Here they are creating, thinking, discussing, adjusting, cursing, sawing, laughing, welding and wondering. Their sense of humour is ever-present.

Small pieces of steel get connected to become a story, a figure, a sculpture, a portrait. Sometimes commissioned, sometimes free form.

For them, every work is a new opportunity to rediscover the material, to find new techniques and different angles. Always exploring new possibilities, based on not knowing, never playing safe.

Ien Sluyters (1973) and Marjon Deul (1966) are artist duo Mainkunstenaars. Both educated at the Art Academy in Arendonk (Belgium). During their education they learned that there is power in their collaboration and partnership. They discovered the power of the pair. They create sculptures (of steel or clay) and assembled art. Their work is displayed in several galleries.

Commissioned by Airco Caravan, they created a little statue of Martin Luther King. This statue was presented to different organisations and people who have put slavery firmly on the international agenda.

At this moment, the statue can be viewed in the National Civil Rights Museum at Lorraine Motel (where King was murdered), the Studio Museum Harlem and the Nobel Museum Stockholm. In Amsterdam there is a statue at the Mauritshuis, Tropenmuseum, Martin Luther King Park, Amsterdam museum, VU University and the Mayor’s Residence.

Adriaan van Dis,  John Lewis, Angela Davis, Nasrdin Dchar, Jerry Afriyie, Humberto Tan and many more have received the statue of Martin Luther King.

Besides feeling honoured and appreciated being asked to create this statue, it’s an expression of their social and cultural involvement. It shows how much it’s entangled in their life and work and it goes beyond their niche and clients.

House of Representatives – The Hague
OBA – Amsterdam
Museum van Loon – Amsterdam
Nobel Museum – Stockholm
National Cilvil Rights Museum – Memphis USA
CBK Zuidoost – Amsterdam
Rob Scholte Museum – Den Helder
City Hall – Oisterwijk
City Hall – Hilvarenbeek
Tropenmuseum – Amsterdam
Martin Luther King Park – Amsterdam
River Side Church – New York City
Mayor’s Residence Herengracht – Amsterdam
University of Amsterdam – Amsterdam
MLK Park – Amsterdam
City Hall – Nederweert
Dotterstraat – Oisterwijk

2023

SPECIALS
Helmen Vol Verhalen | Ministerie van Defensie | 11 April – 26 June
Helmen Vol Verhalen | Foto Expositie | Provinciehuis Zuid-Holland | Mo-Fr 9-17 h
Open Atelier weekend | Oisterwijk | 7-8 Octobre
Van Gogh Church | Etten-leur | Present
Naarden The Art Fair | De Hofgalerie | 25 – 29 January

GALLERIES
De Hofgalerie | The Hague
She Art Gallery | Nuenen
GrachtenGalerie | Utrecht
Luna Art | Venlo
Sculpture Garden Oudenhove | Epe
NockNock | Amsterdam

2022

SPECIALS
Mi Art Event | Den Dolder | 17 – 18 Dec
Helmen Vol Verhalen | Foto Expositie | Provinciehuis Zuid-Holland | Mo-Fr 9-17 hr
Art Gameren | De Grachtengalerie | 11-12-13 November
Museum De Fundatie, Het Nijenhuis KlimaatExpo | Zwolle | 17 Sept – 4 Dec
Johan Willem Friso kazerne | Helmen vol verhalen | Assen | Sept – Dec
Memory Museum | Helmen vol verhalen | Nijverdal  | 15 June – 26 August
Nock Nock Art Fair | De Hallen Studio’s | Amsterdam | 25 – 28 August
Affordable Art Fair | De Hofgalerie | Kromhouthal | A’dam | 27 – 30 October
Van Gogh Church | Ettenleur  | Present
Art Laren | De Hofgalerie | 17 – 19 June
Spiegelogie | MicksArt | Emmen | 29 May – 30 July

GALLERIES
De Hofgalerie | The Hague
She Art Gallery | Nuenen
GrachtenGalerie | Utrecht
Luna Art | Venlo
Sculpture Garden Oudenhove | Epe
NockNock | Amsterdam

2021

Kunstkamer | Franeker
Helmen vol verhalen
Van Gogh Church  | Ettenleur
Affordable Art Fair | De Hofgalerie | Amsterdam
EGGSPO | Diest | Belgium
Micksart Collective | Emmen
EXPOSITIE D’ASPREMONT-LYNDEN | Belgium
Open Atelier route | Oisterwijk
De Hofgalerie | The Hague
She Art Gallery | Nuenen
GrachtenGalerie | Utrecht
Galerie Mi | Bilthoven
KunstLokaal | Kerkrade
Luna Art | Venlo
Art Gallery Stephan Bar | Knokke | Belgium

2020

Helmen vol verhalen
Benefit voor Brabant | PARK | Tilburg
Mail Art ‘Correspondance’ | Lieu d’Europe | Strasbourg
Exclusive Spring Fair | Baarn |
ART BREDA | De Hofgalerie | Breda
d’ASPREMONT-LYNDEN | Oud Rekem | Belgium
The Art Fair | De Hofgalerie | Naarden
DE VELDKARAVAAN kunstvertoning |  Haaren
De Hofgalerie | The Hague
Kunst & Co | Amstelveen
Galerie Mi | Bilthoven
Luna Art | Klaasstraat 39 | Venlo
Amersfoort Art Galerie | Prinses Julianaplein 66
Galerie Perles de Pluie Rue Léopold Bellan | Parijs
She Art Gallery  | De Huufkes 43 | Nuenen
Grachtengalerie | Oudegracht 185 | Utrecht
ArtShop de Salon | Wolvenstraat 13 | Amsterdam
Van Gogh Church | Etten-Leur

2019

Nasty Women #Teamfemke | Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10 | A’dam
Exclusive Privat Preview | De GrachtenGalerie | Gameren
FINE | De GrachtenGalerie | Utrecht
Kunst 10-Daagse | De Hofgalerie | Bergen
Affordable Art Fair | De Hofgalerie | Amsterdam
Art Laren | De Hofgalerie |  De Brink
De Hofgalerie | Annastraat 3 | Den Haag
ZomerExpo Museum De Fundatie | ‘t Nijenhuis | Wijhe
Galerie De Ruimte | Expo 27 | Geldrop
Art Breda | GrachtenGalerie
Kunst & Co | Amstelveen
Santé, kunst op haar gezondheid | NS16 | Tilburg
First Art Fair | Passengers Terminal Amsterdam
Galerie Mi | Bilthoven
Galerie De Hollandsche Maagd | Gouda
The Arts | Orthenstraat 39 | DenBosch
Beeldentemmers | Fabriekstraat 68 | Budel
Luna Art | Klaasstraat 39 | Venlo
Aloyserie Art | Zoetelaarpasage 38 | Almere
Amersfoort Art Galerie | Prinses Julianaplein 66
Galerie Perles de Pluie Rue Léopold Bellan | Parijs
Art Gallery  | De Huufkes 43 | Nuenen
Grachtengalerie | Oudegracht 185 | Utrecht
ArtShop de Salon | Wolvenstraat 13 | Amsterdam
Van Gogh Church | Etten-Leur
Galerie Contrast | Besterdring 46 | Tilburg
Hutspot | van Woustraat 1 | Amsterdam

2018

Aloyserie Art | Zoetelaarpasage 38 | Almere
Amersfoort Art Galerie | Prinses Julianaplein 66
Galerie Mi | Beethovenlaan 13 | Bilthoven
Affordable Art Fair | Amsterdam | 1-4 November | Stand GrachtenGalerie
Lowlands PakjeKunst Museum | Biddinghuizen
Galerie Perles de Pluie Rue Léopold Bellan | Paris
She Art Gallery  | De Huufkes 43 | Nuenen
Art Pop-Up | Almijstraat 14 | Oisterwijk
Grachtengalerie | Oudegracht 185 | Utrecht
LuiLui | Kruisstraat| Denbosch
ArtShop de Salon | Wolvenstraat 13 | Amsterdam
Van Gogh Church | Etten-Leur
SaV/Fe | Fort Sabina | Heiningen
Progress | Galerie Tuur | Venlo

2017

De Oriënt | Pulchri Studio | The Hague
Art Pop-Up | Almijstraat 14 | Oisterwijk
Grachtengalerie | Oudegracht 185 | Utrecht
Galerie Contrast | Besterdring 46 | Tilburg
ArtShop de Salon | Wolvenstraat 13 | Amsterdam
Van Gogh Church | Etten-Leur
Galerie Contrast | Besterdring 46 | Tilburg
Elizabeth Ziekenhuis | Tilburg
Nasty Women Amsterdam | Josilda da Conceicao Gallery  2017
Grachtengalerie | Oudegracht 185 | Utrecht
VondelCS | Vondelpark 3 | Amsterdam
Huis van Strijdhoven | Oisterwijk
Tarmax Kunstenfestival | Meerhout | Belgie
Pakje Kunst | Bank 15 | Tilburg
AAF | Kromhouthal | Amsterdam

2016

Graduation show | Academy of Fine Arts | Arendonk Belgium
Art Pop-up | Almijstraat 14 | Oisterwijk
Vincent’s Revival | Van Gogh Church | Etten-Leur

2015
Art Square Amsterdam | Museumsquare | Amsterdam
Art Pop-Up | Almijstraat 14 | Oisterwijk
Vincent’s Revival | Van Gogh Church | Etten-Leur

2014
Main één | Atelier Main | Oisterwijk
Kunst.Oisterwijk | Leerfabriek | Oisterwijk
Galerie Tuur | Expositie ’40×40′ | Venlo
Van Gogh Leeft! | Etten-Leur
Vincent’s Revival | Van Gogh Church | Etten-Leur