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Norbert de Jong at Exhibition in 2026

2026 is a busy year for Norbert de Jong. The Amsterdam-based Outsider Art artist is on the schedule for three prominent exhibitions in the Netherlands — each with its own audience and context. An opportunity to experience his work live.

Art Brut Biënnale Hengelo

The Art Brut Biënnale in Hengelo is one of the few events in the Netherlands entirely dedicated to Art Brut and Outsider Art. Every two years it brings together artists who work outside the established art world. Norbert shows large, colourful canvases with human figures that tell the story of an inner world. The event attracts collectors, curators and art lovers from across the country and abroad.

Atelier Brut Amsta — Amsterdam

Atelier Brut Amsta is connected to Amsta, an Amsterdam care organisation. The studio gives artists with a care background the space to work professionally. Norbert de Jong exhibits here regularly, alongside artists with whom he shares a working method and artistic vision. For lovers of Amsterdam Outsider Art, a visit is a must.

Kunst aan Tafel — Arkin

Kunst aan Tafel is an initiative by Arkin, a mental health organisation in Amsterdam. The project brings art and community together and presents work in an accessible context. Norbert participates, bringing his work to a broad audience.

Buying work by Norbert de Jong

Not everyone can attend an exhibition, but everyone can view and buy Norbert de Jong’s work online. His webshop contains a current selection of available paintings. Read more about buying Outsider Art or Art Brut in the Netherlands.

How to Choose a Painting

Buying a painting feels like a big decision for many people. After all, it will be with you for years, hanging prominently in your home, saying something about who you are. Yet the choice is simpler than it seems if you keep a few basic principles in mind.

Step 1: Trust your first reaction

When you look at a painting and your pulse quickens — pay attention. That first visceral reaction is more reliable than any rational consideration. If a work still won’t let you go after five minutes, that’s a good sign.

Step 2: Ask yourself the time question

Do you still want to see this work in five years? In ten? Art that plays to trends dates quickly. Timeless works — strong in colour, powerful in composition, authentic in character — grow with you.

Step 3: Consider size and space

A painting must suit the space — not just physically, but also in atmosphere. Measure the wall and see what size fits. A large, exuberant work by Norbert de Jong demands space and attention. A smaller work can be intimate in a personal corner.

Step 4: Get to know the artist

Art that you understand — because you know who made it, what drives them, in which tradition they work — has more to say. Take time to read about Norbert de Jong’s background. His Outsider Art roots, his mixed media technique, his exhibitions all give context and depth.

Step 5: Buy original

A reproduction or print does not have the energy of an original painting. The matter — the paint, the texture, the traces of the artist’s hand — makes an original work unique. An original also retains its value, whereas prints rarely do.

Norbert de Jong: original paintings

Every work by Norbert de Jong is a unique, handmade original in mixed media. Browse the current collection in the webshop or read more on paintings for sale.

What is Figurative Art?

Figurative art is art in which recognisable forms from reality are depicted — people, animals, landscapes, objects. It is the opposite of abstract art, where the artist moves away from recognisable imagery. Figurative art has a long history and remains one of the most direct ways to communicate a story or emotion.

A brief history

Figurative art has existed as long as humanity has made art. From the cave paintings at Lascaux to Rembrandt’s portraits — people have always had the urge to depict reality. In the twentieth century, figurative art was temporarily overshadowed by abstract movements, but the tradition never disappeared. In Outsider Art and Art Brut, figurative art remained central.

Figurative vs. abstract

The distinction is not always sharp. Many artists work in a grey zone:

• Strictly figurative: realistic representation of people, animals or objects
• Semi-figurative: recognisable forms that are distorted or stylised
• Abstract-figurative: abstract composition with figurative elements

Norbert de Jong works in this grey zone. His figures are recognisably human but not realistic — expressively distorted, with his own use of colour and symbolism.

Figurative art in Norbert de Jong’s work

Human figures play a central role in Norbert de Jong’s work. They stand alone or in groups, in motion or at rest — always with a directness typical of Outsider Art. His figures are not academic studies but expressive presences that have something to say.

The combination of figurative elements with mixed media technique gives his work a unique depth. The figures seem to grow from the layered background, as if they were always there. Browse his figurative work in the webshop or read more on figurative art for sale.

The Art Scene in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a rich artistic tradition stretching back to the Golden Age. Today the city is a vibrant centre for contemporary art — with internationally recognised museums, experimental galleries and a thriving underground art scene. Outsider Art and Art Brut find particularly fertile ground in Amsterdam.

Museums and institutions

Amsterdam is home to the Stedelijk Museum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. For Outsider Art enthusiasts, the smaller institutions are equally interesting. Atelier Brut Amsta, connected to care organisations in Amsterdam, is one of the few places in the Netherlands where Art Brut is structurally made and exhibited.

Galleries and art fairs

The Jordaan neighbourhood and the area around Spiegelstraat are traditional gallery streets. During Art Amsterdam and other fairs, art lovers flock to the city. The market for Outsider Art is growing: international collectors are increasingly discovering Dutch self-taught artists.

Norbert de Jong in Amsterdam

Norbert de Jong is an Amsterdam-based artist with deep roots in the city. His work is influenced by urban life, Amsterdam’s diversity and the working-class energy the city radiates. He regularly exhibits at Atelier Brut Amsta, where his work is shown alongside other Outsider Art makers.

His paintings are a piece of Amsterdam — the vivid colours, the bustle, the human figures. A work by Norbert is an authentic piece of Amsterdam art history.

Buying art in Amsterdam

If you want to buy a unique artwork without paying gallery prices, buying directly from the artist is the way to go. Norbert de Jong sells his work through the webshop. Read more about buying Outsider Art or discover Norbert as an Amsterdam artist.

Art Brut vs. Outsider Art: What’s the Difference?

The terms Art Brut and Outsider Art are often used interchangeably. Yet there is an important historical and conceptual difference. Anyone collecting or seeking to understand art at the intersection of art and society would do well to know both terms.

Art Brut: the original term

Art Brut is a French term, literally translated as raw art. It was introduced in the 1940s by French artist Jean Dubuffet. He used it to describe art created entirely outside cultural influences — made by people without artistic training, not guided by the market or critics.

Dubuffet spent years collecting works from psychiatric patients, prisoners and spiritualist mediums, and founded the Collection de l’Art Brut in Lausanne. His definition is strict: the artist must have no conscious artistic ambition and must not be integrated into the art world.

Outsider Art: the broader English term

In the 1970s, art critic Roger Cardinal introduced Outsider Art as an English equivalent. In practice it is a broader category: it encompasses Art Brut but also Naive art and Visionary art. Due to the wider reach of English, Outsider Art became the dominant term on the international art market.

What do they have in common?

• Both value authenticity over technique
• Both are independent of the established art world and its conventions
• Both emerged as a reaction to the hierarchical Western art tradition

Norbert de Jong: Art Brut from Amsterdam

Norbert de Jong’s work fits within the Outsider Art tradition. His paintings are direct, intuitive and expressive. At exhibitions such as the Art Brut Biënnale in Hengelo, he shows his work alongside artists who share the same compulsive urge to create.

Browse his work in the webshop or read more about buying Outsider Art.

Tips for Buying Paintings

Buying a painting is a personal decision. Unlike furniture or decoration, a painting chooses you just as much as you choose it. Yet there are practical tips that can help you make the right choice — whether you’re buying your first artwork or are an experienced collector.

1. Buy what truly moves you

The first and most important tip: buy a work that speaks to you emotionally. Not what others say it’s worth, not what’s currently fashionable — but what you want to see every day. A painting you’re tired of after a month is a poor purchase, no matter how famous the artist.

2. Get to know the artist

A painting is worth more when you know the story behind it. Who is the artist? What drives them? How does this work fit into their oeuvre? Take time to read the background or visit an exhibition. With independent artists, personal contact is often very possible.

3. Focus on quality, not size

A small high-quality painting is always better than a large work you’re drawn to for the wrong reasons. Look at the execution: is the paint well applied? Is the canvas properly stretched? Ask about the materials used — good artists work with archival materials that last for generations.

4. Consider the space

Where will the painting hang? A study requires something different from a living room or bedroom. Pay attention to dimensions, colours and the atmosphere the work radiates. A bold, dynamic canvas by Norbert de Jong makes a statement — plan deliberately where and how it hangs.

5. Buy directly from the artist

Galleries charge margins of 30 to 50 per cent. By buying directly from the artist, you support them directly and pay a fair price. You also often receive more context and personal attention.

6. Keep the documentation

A certificate of authenticity, a photo of the artist with the work, a description of the technique — keep all of this. It adds value if you ever resell, and adds depth to your own experience of the work.

Paintings by Norbert de Jong

Norbert de Jong creates unique Outsider Art paintings in mixed media. Every work is handmade and one of a kind. Browse the current collection in the webshop.