Stedelijk Museum to Present Major Retrospective of Graphic Designer Karel Martens in July 2025
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam will present the first major retrospective of graphic designer Karel Martens from July 11 to October 26, 2025. The exhibition titled Unbound comprises over 300 works including building lettering, every issue of OASE magazine, books, typography, postage stamps, telephone cards and wallpaper. It also features a replica of a beach cabin from the 2017 Couleurs sur la plage project in Le Havre and a 2024 road surface design for Amsterdam's 30-km speed limit. The show is curated by Thomas Castro in collaboration with Klaartje Martens and is accompanied by an artist’s book published by Roma Publishers.
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The retrospective highlights Martens’ long teaching career at the Jan van Eyck Academie, Yale University for 22 years and ArtEz in Arnhem, where he co-founded the Werkplaats Typografie. Collectors and curators will note the €39.80 publication and museum shop items including Suite702 towels, Liberty scarves and A4 wallpaper. Works already held by SFMOMA and the Art Institute of Chicago confirm sustained institutional interest in his experimental graphic design practice.
- Artists: Karel Martens
- People: Rein Wolfs, Thomas Castro, Klaartje Martens, Aagje Martens
- Museums: Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, SFMOMA, Art Institute of Chicago
- Locations: Amsterdam
- Prices: €39.80
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