One week was spent at the beach in Cancun, with a trip down the Mexican Riviera. The colors of the water, sand, sky, birds and people were extraordinary. I unpacked my sketchbook and watercolors and set to work.
Born in the Netherlands, he grew up in the home of Dutch impressionist artist Willem Witsen (1860-1923). After finishing his education in Amsterdam, he traveled through Europe and settled in the South of France. Here, Van Selm took inspiration from the legacies of Cezanne, Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso. He developed a keen sense for the vibrancy of light and began to use the palette as a major means to define his style.
Inspired by the contemporary swerve visible in studios and galleries throughout the city, Van Selm moved to New York in the eighties. During this time, he developed what would become his signature theme - human heads in profile. Over the years, Van Selm also spent time at an artists’ commune in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, and made multiple trips to Kyoto, Japan. These journeys served to influence his brush stroke and impact his evolving style.
Arie Van Selm’s art is in numerous collections, public and private, in the United States, Europe, as well as in Japan. He works and exhibits in New York, Dallas, Amsterdam, and Berlin.