About me

Welcome! I’m Bart Carels, a contemporary artist based in Zaandam, The Netherlands. I paint the things that stay with me: music, films, food, games, people, objects and memories. Much of my work is shaped by growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, my Dutch-Indonesian background, and the culture I’ve always been drawn to.

My Artistic Journey

I started drawing as a child, first with pencil and ink, and gradually moved into acrylic painting on paper and canvas. Over time, I developed a style built around recognizable subjects, expressive brushwork and strong color.

I’m less interested in simply reproducing an image than in capturing why a subject matters to me. That might be a musician I listened to for years, a game controller that instantly brings back a period of my life, or something as ordinary as a bottle of sambal.

My Artistic Style

My work sits somewhere between pop culture, realism and painterly expression. The subjects are familiar, but the paintings remain visibly handmade, with texture, brushwork and imperfections that give each piece its own character.

I often paint subjects connected to music, film, gaming, food and everyday culture. Some are nostalgic, some playful, and some simply caught my attention for their shape, color or personal meaning.

Original Paintings & Art Prints

Every original is painted by me in my studio in Zaandam. The art prints available on this site are created from those original physical paintings, so even the prints begin with real paint on canvas or paper.

You can explore my Original Paintings or browse my Art Prints.

The Heart of My Inspiration

A lot of my inspiration comes from memory and recognition: a song, a film scene, a familiar object, a favorite food, or something that instantly takes you back to another time.

If one of my paintings reminds you of a person, a place, a moment or a part of your own life, that’s exactly the kind of connection I hope the work can create.

Connect With Me

You can follow new work and studio updates on Instagram and Pinterest. For inquiries, commissions or collaborations, feel free to reach out through my contact form.

— Bart