About Erik Buijs

Erik Buijs uses clay. Growing up in the Betuwe, clay was his soil. However, his end products can come in a very diverse range of materials. Figures which he clays have the simplicity of an archetype in them. The statues seem surprised and contemplative of their surroundings. Sometimes they are waiting, sometimes it is just a snapshot. Buijs studied sculpture at the Sint Joost Academy in Breda and at the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Arnhem. Upon graduation, he first focused on art in public space but is now also well represented in galleries and at art fairs.

For ARTZUID 2023, Erik Buijs made the sculptures MUD and ZIT in EPS (insulating polystyrene foam), polyester and polyurea. The three-meter-high statue MUD stands still for a moment, as if it wants to make a point. The orange head or balaclava gives MUD something endearing and scary at the same time. SIT has a similar ambiguity due to the bone which it is sitting, resting, or waiting on. Both sculptures invite the viewer to create their own story. Going back and forth between endearing or scary, happy, and sad. In addition to his smaller sculptures, Erik Buijs also has a large series of larger sculptures to his name, several of which can be admired in the public space. KONG can be found at the CODA in Apeldoorn and the bronze brother of ZIT has been on display in Ede since last year. A statement by Buijs: ‘It is important that doubts remain’.