Willem de Kooning Academy
 |
|
| Established | 1773 'Hierdoor tot Hooger' 1998 Willem de Kooning Academie |
|---|---|
| Students | 2,100+ Undergraduate and Postgraduate |
| Location | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Website | www |
 |
|
The Willem de Kooning Academy Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch academy of media, art, design, leisure and education based in Rotterdam. It was named after one of its most famous alumni, Dutch fine artist Willem de Kooning.
The Willem de Kooning Academy is the art school of Rotterdam and part of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. It is regarded as one of the most prestigious art schools in the country and no. 1 in advertising and copywriting. Previously called the Academie van Beeldende Kunsten (Academy of Visual Arts), it has since 1998 carried the name of alumnus Willem de Kooning (1904–1997). Willem de Kooning was born in north Rotterdam and graduated in decoration art (now styling). He went to New York at the age of 22 and became a frontman of the Abstract Expressionism painting movement of the 1940s and 1950s.
The academy's postgraduate programmes are housed in the Piet Zwart Institute, named after faculty alumnus Piet Zwart (1885–1977). Zwart designed stamps, print advertising, books, interiors, furniture (including the Bruynzeel kitchen) in the 1920s and also spent time photographing and painting. He has been officially awarded the title 'Dutch Designer of the 20th Century'.
The academy is proud of de Kooning and Zwart, two artists far ahead of their time, who inspire both students and faculty.
The roots of the art academy in Rotterdam go back to 1773, when a group of Rotterdam artists around the marine painter Hendrik Kobell founded drawing society 'Tekengenootschap Hierdoor tot Hooger.' In those days drawing societies and academies were founded in many Dutch cities. According to Knolle (2014), these were 'instances where new ideas about the production and function of art were developed, exchanged and put into practice. New arrived painters practiced themselves in the evening in drawing from the nude; young apprentice artists and craftsmen received drawing education; other enthusiasts developed their sense for art, for a better life, but also to judiciously collect- preferably Dutch - art.'
In 1781, the drawing society was turned into a public academy: the 'Rotterdamse Academie'. In addition to earlier programmes, there were now classes in engineering, perspective theory, anatomy and art philosophy. The academy also kept acting as meeting place for discussion with 303 members in 1808, while at the education counted 45 pupils. In 1822 the academy was renamed 'Stadstekenschool voor de Bouwkunde,' and in 1832 renamed to 'Volksindustrieschool'.
...
Wikipedia