Chiel van Zelst - Damrak

Expressive image of the start of the construction of the North-South line for the Victoria Hotel on the Damrak in Amsterdam. Mixed media oil and acrylic on canvas. Purchased from the artist. Excellent condition.
Michiel (Chiel) van Zelst (Amsterdam, June 5, 1964) is a Dutch artist and former gallery owner. On February 20, 2006, he was elected Amsterdam night mayor. Van Zelst studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and at the School of Visual Art in New York. Before he went to college, he was addicted for a while and supported himself by stealing and reselling bicycles. In 1999, he published the autobiographical novella 100,000 Fietsventielen about this period. When the first copy was received by Amsterdam police spokesman Klaas Wilting, there were angry reactions from several bicycle rental companies who found this highly inappropriate for a police officer and wanted to seize the proceeds of the book.[1] In 1994, Van Zelst was one of the initiators of house parties in Vrieshuis Amerika. In 2002, he started an artist initiative and gallery – the Chiellerie, which he also called "the hangout for artists" – which was previously located on the Admiraal de Ruijterweg, and later on the Raamgracht (until 2012). Van Zelst currently works as a professional painter. He specializes in the Amsterdam cityscape. His lively style of painting has connections with both old masters and contemporary street art and graffiti culture. He makes and sells his work through temporary studios spread throughout Amsterdam.