AMSTERDAM.- This summer, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam presents the exhibition Things I’ve Never Seen Before, showcasing a selection from the donation by gallerist and collector Fons Welters. In 2022, Welters donated a series of remarkable works to the museum. Many of the artists in this donation are already represented in the Stedelijk's collection.
Fons Welters, formerly an arable farmer in South Limburg, opened his gallery in Amsterdam's Jordaan district at the age of 42. Since its founding in 1985, Galerie Fons Welters has become a vital space for emerging talent. Welters is considered a key figure in Amsterdam’s contemporary art scene.
“I’m always looking for things I’ve never seen before,” says Welters. This open and curious mindset defines his approach to collecting. He often encountered artists early in their careers, sometimes during their art school years. For instance, in 1999, he purchased Gabriel Lester’s installation How to Act directly from the artist following a presentation at the Rijksakademie.
The exhibition reflects both Welters' approach to art and his role in Amsterdam’s art ecosystem. His donation to the Stedelijk is a valuable addition to the museum's collection and highlights his significance to the city’s cultural life.
The following artists are featured in the exhibition: Olga Balema, Thomas Houseago, Saskia Noor van Imhoff, Gabriel Lester, Aernout Mik, Matthew Monahan, Maria Roosen, Berend Strik, Jennifer Tee, Evelyn Taocheng Wang, Joep van Lieshout.
The presentation of the donation comes at a significant moment: this summer, Galerie Fons Welters will close its doors after forty years of dedication to contemporary art.
