Raymond Lemstra "Good Looking"
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Raymond Lemstra
NANZUKA is pleased to present “Good Looking,” a solo exhibition of new works by Raymond Lemstra at NANZUKA UNDERGROUND. This exhibition marks the artist’s second solo show at NANZUKA following his first exhibition in Japan held at 3110NZ by LDH Kitchen (now Sushi Saito Hanare NANZUKA) in 2024.
Raymond Lemstra was born in 1978 in Groningen, the Netherlands, and graduated with a BFA from Academy Minerva in 2004. After relocating to Amsterdam, he currently lives and works in Seoul, South Korea. He has held solo exhibitions worldwide, including at ATM Gallery (New York), Unit (London), and Mini Gallerie (Amsterdam). In recent years, Lemstra has earned high acclaim from art institutions and collectors alike, participating in group exhibitions at D Museum and Tang Contemporary Art (both in Seoul), with his works also being acquired by Coleccion SOLO (Madrid).
The foundation of Lemstra’s artistic practice lies in the creation of meticulous graphite portraits. While at first glance his works appear to be faithfully realistic renditions, they in fact depict anonymous human figures that are somehow playful and simultaneously tinged with cynicism. Lemstra’s distinctive drawings on paper that are at once powerful yet reveal an air of delicacy in their painstaking attention to detail, invite viewers to venture into the world of the phantasmagoric that lies in the realm between reality and the unreal.
Meanwhile, in recent years, Lemstra has also been committed to his pursuit of painting. His residency in Somo, Spain in 2015 catalyzed his transition into the production of vibrant paintings that expand upon his prior artistic explorations. This exhibition is the first to present this new series of painted portraits, which profoundly reflect the artist’s own cultural journey through his choice of materials—fusing traditional Dutch oil painting techniques with “hanji,” traditional handmade paper from Korea created from the inner bark of the paper mulberry.
Titled “Good Looking,” the exhibition showcases 20 new drawings and 6 new paintings, introducing a new chapter in Lemstra’s ongoing series of work “Personnage Fictionnel.”
This exhibition is the culmination of Lemstra’s long-standing pursuit of portrait drawings, and also serves as a platform for presenting his new ventures in painting. To coincide with this exhibition, NANZUKA Publishing will release Personnage Fictionnel, the first monograph of Lemstra’s work. The special edition will include a limited-edition print created specifically for this publication.
An opening reception with the artist will be held on March 7th (Sat) 17:00-19:00 at NANZUKA UNDERGROUND.
Raymond Lemstra was born in 1978 in Groningen, the Netherlands, and graduated with a BFA from Academy Minerva in 2004. After relocating to Amsterdam, he currently lives and works in Seoul, South Korea. He has held solo exhibitions worldwide, including at ATM Gallery (New York), Unit (London), and Mini Gallerie (Amsterdam). In recent years, Lemstra has earned high acclaim from art institutions and collectors alike, participating in group exhibitions at D Museum and Tang Contemporary Art (both in Seoul), with his works also being acquired by Coleccion SOLO (Madrid).
The foundation of Lemstra’s artistic practice lies in the creation of meticulous graphite portraits. While at first glance his works appear to be faithfully realistic renditions, they in fact depict anonymous human figures that are somehow playful and simultaneously tinged with cynicism. Lemstra’s distinctive drawings on paper that are at once powerful yet reveal an air of delicacy in their painstaking attention to detail, invite viewers to venture into the world of the phantasmagoric that lies in the realm between reality and the unreal.
Meanwhile, in recent years, Lemstra has also been committed to his pursuit of painting. His residency in Somo, Spain in 2015 catalyzed his transition into the production of vibrant paintings that expand upon his prior artistic explorations. This exhibition is the first to present this new series of painted portraits, which profoundly reflect the artist’s own cultural journey through his choice of materials—fusing traditional Dutch oil painting techniques with “hanji,” traditional handmade paper from Korea created from the inner bark of the paper mulberry.
Titled “Good Looking,” the exhibition showcases 20 new drawings and 6 new paintings, introducing a new chapter in Lemstra’s ongoing series of work “Personnage Fictionnel.”
This exhibition is the culmination of Lemstra’s long-standing pursuit of portrait drawings, and also serves as a platform for presenting his new ventures in painting. To coincide with this exhibition, NANZUKA Publishing will release Personnage Fictionnel, the first monograph of Lemstra’s work. The special edition will include a limited-edition print created specifically for this publication.
An opening reception with the artist will be held on March 7th (Sat) 17:00-19:00 at NANZUKA UNDERGROUND.
Schedule Now in session | Mar 7 (Sat) 2026-Apr 4 (Sat) 2026 Ends Today Opening Hours Information
Opening Reception Mar 7 (Sat) 2026 17:00 - 19:00 | ||||
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| Fee | Free | ||||
| Website | https://nanzuka.com/en/exhibitions/raymond-lemstra-good-looking | ||||
| Venue | Nanzuka Underground http://www.nug.jp | ||||
| Location | 3-30-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001 | ||||
| Access | 8 minute walk from exit 5 at Meiji-jingumae Station on the Chiyoda and Fukutoshin lines, 10 minute walk from the Takeshita exit of Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote line. | ||||
| Phone | 03-5422-3877 | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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