About the Artist

Karel Appel attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and had his first solo exhibition in 1946. In 1948 he helped to found the experimental group of Dutch and Belgian artists called Reflex, the root of Cobra. During the 1950's his international recognition was launched as he was given a solo exhibition at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels (1953) and he was included in the Sao Paolo Bienale the same year and the Venice Bienale of 1954. Prizes from many countries were to follow. Appel's work is typified by abstract images suggesting human masks, animal or fantasy figures. There is a childlike naivety associated with his work enhanced by bright colors. In 1969 he had a retrospective exhibition at Venlo, Netherlands. In 1972 he was given retrospectives in Canada and the United States. The work of Karel Appel is included in the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim in New York City; the Albright Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo; the Boston Museum of Fine Arts; the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis; the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh to name a few.