Chris Nelck (2003,NL) grew up immersed in art, attending museums from a young age. He got admitted to the Willem de Kooning Academy at 15, initially studying photography before shifting to fine arts. His work is influenced by his Trans and Queer identity, which permeates his practice. Nelck has also studied at Kunsthøgskolen in Oslo and is known for integrating writing into his projects, often publishing texts alongside his artworks.
Nelck’s art embodies “radical openness,” a term he uses to describe his transparent approach to expressing his secrets, shame, desires, and emotions. The paintings are visualizations of Nelck’s performance piece Midas, and at the same time also the inspiration for the performance. This series delves into themes of Trans and Queer shame, transforming these experiences into acts of resistance. Inspired by Mario Mieli’s quote from Towards a Gay Communism, 1974, “I keep my treasure in my arse, but then my arse is open to everyone”, Nelck’s performances involve writing secrets in shells and burying them, reminiscent of the Greek myth of King Midas. This act symbolizes the spreading of secrets, aiming for viewers to recognize and resonate with these shared experiences.
Chris Tam Nelck
chrisnelck@gmail.com
Based in Rotterdam
chrisnelck@gmail.com
Based in Rotterdam
My face is like an open book, people have told me this repeatedly throughout my life. My emotions are upfront and my features articulative.
I frown without thinking and smile without knowing.
My practice is very much the same. In my art I am open and upfront. My secrets, shame, desires and emotions are for everyone to see when I choose to. I call this radical openness. Radical openness for me, is a way of activism. When painting, I often feel like I am building bridges between me and the viewer. My paintings make it possible for me to feel at peace while sharing personal and intimate emotions. They are hairy and vulnerable. Powerful and fragile.
Education:
2020 - 2024 Willem de Kooning Academy, Fine Art (Cum Laude)
2023 Exchange Program, Oslo National Academy of the Arts (Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo), Norway
2018 Preliminary program of the Willem de Kooning Academy
Solo Exhibitions:
2025 Duivennest, Hillevliet, Rotterdam
Group Exhibitions:
2025 Flambeed Cherries, Kunstliefde, Utrecht
2024 Destillaat #26, Extrapool, Nijmegen
2024 Together for Free, Brutus, Rotterdam
2024 Best of Graduates, Ron Mandos, Amsterdam
2024 Graduation Show, Willem de Kooning, Rotterdam
2022 Inside Outside, Time Is The New Space, Rotterdam
2021 Re, Re, Re, Ijzerblok, Rotterdam
2021 Identity Talks, Rotterdam
Residenties:
2025 De Belofte, Kunstliefde, Utrecht
2025 B-Sides Residency, Hocus Bogus Publishing, Rotterdam
2024 Destillaat #26, Extrapool, Nijmegen
Performances/events:
2025 Goblin Feast: the end of the World, Wasteland Festival, Rotterdam
2025 Goblin Feast: Filth Extravaganza, Poortgebouw, Rotterdam (performance)
2025 Book Launch: Eden, Burgertrut, Rotterdam
2025 Goblin Feast: Snack de la Snack, Worm, Art Rotterdam (performance)
2025 Goblin Feast: Devilled Egg Competition, Hillevliet, Rotterdam
2024 Spookstad Duivennest, Extrapool, Nijmegen
2024 Goblin Feast: Rituals, Roodkapje, Rotterdam
2024 Goblin Feast: Animals, Roodkapje, Rotterdam
2023 Goblin Feast: Halloween Edition, Roodkapje, Rotterdam
2023 May I Never Have A Penis, Roodkapje, Rotterdam (performance)
Publications:
2025 Eden
2025 Reading My Panties Issue 02: Queer Pillow Talk (featuring text)
2024 Oester Catalogus
2024 Shame Manifesto
2023 Capital g god Lower Q Queer
2022 ACAB: Ailie & Chris Are Beautiful
2022 Sint Antonius
2021 Identity Talks
2021 Community Sculpting
Workshops:
2023 On Queer Speculative Fiction, Skeiv Ungdom, Norway
2022 Queer Live Drawing Session, Rotterdam
2021 Community Sculpting, Roodkapje, Rotterdam
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Eden --- 2025
Publication made during a one week micro residency at Hocus Bogus publishing. The images were made by the use of grey colored iron-on beads, which then got scanned and printed in different colors.
175x250mm
Multicolor RISO
Crush Kiwi 120gram
Crush Corn 250gram
28 pages,Spiral bound
Edition of 40
Available at hocusboguspublishing.com
Groen is iets,
blauw is het niets --- 2025
Tussen oer-Hollandse plakplinten en Noorse bossen ontstaat een stille sterrenhemel.
Dit werk richt zich op het vastleggen en eren van kleine momenten. De polaroidfoto’s zijn direct op het werk bevestigd, zoals foto's in Noorse hyttes aan de muur worden gehangen: zonder glas, vaak eenvoudig omlijst met de hand gespijkerd hout. In deze directe, huiselijke manier van ophangen worden herinneringen vereeuwigd.
De beelden tonen landschappen, sporen van aanwezigheid en details uit het dagelijkse buitenleven. Het werk reflecteert op vertraging, aandacht en de waarde van het alledaagse, en stelt de vraag hoe we herinneren wat ooit was.
Between Dutch skirting boards and Norwegian forests, a quiet starry sky emerges.
This work explores the act of capturing and honoring small moments. The Polaroid photographs are mounted directly onto the piece, much like photos in Norwegian hyttes are placed on walls: without glass, often simply framed with hand-nailed wood. In this direct, domestic way of displaying, memories are made permanent.
The images show landscapes, traces of presence, and details from everyday life outdoors. The work reflects on slowness, attention, and the value of the ordinary, and asks how we remember what once was.
