Peter Klashorst - Smoking figure.

Peter Klashorst (1957 – 2024) was one of the most talked-about, controversial, and influential Dutch artists of his generation. His life and work were characterized by an absolute drive for freedom, a dynamic and eclectic painting style, and a lifestyle that was as turbulent as it was dissolute, which regularly made the news.
Peter van de Klashorst was born on February 11, 1957, in Santpoort. It was clear from an early age that he possessed great artistic talent. Between 1976 and 1981, he studied at the prestigious Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam, where he graduated cum laude. In addition to painting, he was also active in the music scene during this period; he played in the underground bands Interior and Soviet Sex, among others.

In the 1980s, Klashorst distanced himself from the abstract and conceptual art that was dominant at the time. He wanted to return to pure painting, figuration, and emotion.

In 1987, together with artists such as Jurriaan van Hall and Bart Domburg, he founded the renowned collective After Nature. They painted together outdoors and drew direct inspiration from nature and classical anatomy, thereby giving the Dutch art world a significant boost. The group disbanded in 1995.

Klashorst struggled to find his place in bourgeois Dutch society and opted for a nomadic existence. Sensuality, sexuality, and the female nude were central to his work, which repeatedly landed him in serious trouble.

The rough life eventually took its toll. In 2014, it became known that Klashorst had contracted HIV/AIDS. Although he long claimed he could defy the disease with sports and cold showers, his health deteriorated rapidly in his final years.

Peter Klashorst passed away on September 11, 2024, at the age of 67 in the University Medical Center (AMC) in Amsterdam from the effects of lymphoma. The urge to create was present until the very last moment; he continued painting as long as his body allowed.

Due to the large glass panel, shipping is not recommended. It is possible, but glass breakage is at the buyer's risk. Can also be shipped without frame or glass. Collection or art courier is preferred.