Photo: Jhon Freddy Tobón Montoya
Justin Reinir Croes (1990, Oranjestad Aruba) (he/they) is a Caribbean/Aruban two-spirited multidisciplinary artist who came to the Netherlands in 2014 to pursue a career in art.
After first graduating from SintLucas in Boxtel, he then obtained his Bachelor in Fine Art at St. Joost School of Art & Design in
's Hertogenbosch. In addition to obtaining his diploma, Justin also won the 'Jheronimus Atelier Prize 2022'.
Connection and heritage is central to Justin's work; he likes to collaborate with nature and culture to create art inspired by his indigenous roots in Aruba and queer sensibility.
ARTIST STATEMENT
"¿Quien soy? Wie ben ik? Who am I? Ta ken mi ta?" That's a question Justin often asks himself.
Making art helps him illuminates this existential question drawing upon the human condition,
nature and the culture of Aruba with its ancient and contemporary iconography.
He works in multiple art forms ... digital art, animation, painting, drawing, sculpture and performance.
In doing so, he experiments with natural materials from his origin, such as corn (eaten worldwide) and annatto/rucu (a sacred material and food coloring).
His goal is to reconnect with his ancestors to ease his existential crisis. But also to decolonize, heal and inspire others to be themselves.
Justin wants to share his Aruban cultural heritage with the world through his artistic perspective.
2018 - 2022
2014 - 2018
2012 - 2014
Education
Bachelor in Fine Art
St. Joost School of Art & Design
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
Stand, Shop and Decor Designer
Boxtel, The Netherlands
Preparatory course
Academy of Fine Arts and Design Aruba
Oranjestad, Aruba
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2014
(Group) Exhibitions
- Destillaat #24
Extrapool
Nijmegen, The Netherlands
(Risograph Art)
- The Curaçao Experience
TUI Headquarters
Rijswijk, The Netherlands
(Mixed Media Painting)
- Caribbean Linked VI exhibition
Atelier '89
Oranjestad, Aruba
(Mixed Media; Painting, Performance & Installation)
Kunstruimte de Melkfabriek
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
(Collaborative art with Eduard Linders & Mark Beusen)
- Graduation Show NOW SHOW, Class of €524.988,07
St. Joost School of Art & Design
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
(Performance & Mixed Media Installation art)
- Wegens omstandigheden is er momenteel geen titel
De Fabriek
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
(Collaborative Sculpture & Installation)
- SOLOSOCIAL
Online exhibition
The Netherlands
(Video art/Process art)
- bruik
St. Joost School of Art & Design
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
(Collaborative Illustration & Video art with Kasper van Tol)
- GAZE
Kunstruimte de Melkfabriek
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
(Drawings, Process art & Painting)
- Gruyter Walk
De Gruyter Fabriek
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
(Collaborative Paintings & Installation with Dylan van de Wal & Kasper van Tol)
- Collab Collide Collapse 2nd edition
Werkwarenhuis Tramkade
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
(Collaborative Paintings with Eduard Linders)
- Koorts
AKV|St.Joost School of Art & Design
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
(Performance Art & Installation with Donna van Oorschot, Mitzi Schreuder, Merel Pouwels & Fabian van Brakel)
- BEHIND REALITY
Theater aan de Parade
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
(Drawings)
- G EH ALTE
Tramkade
s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
(Performance Poetry)
- Collab Collide Collapse 1st edition
Kunstruimte de Melkfabriek
's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
(Fashion Design & Mixed Media with Jolande van Lith)
- Eind Examen Expo
SiNTLUCAS
Boxtel, The Netherlands
(Sculpture)
- Dutch Design Week
SiNTLUCAS
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
(Product Design)
- Expo Academy of Fine Art & Design Aruba
Vertegenwoordiging van Nederland in Aruba building
Oranjestad, Aruba
(Mixed Media)
Awards and Nominations
- Jheronimus Atelier Prize 2022 (JAP) winner
- Nominated for Bruning Brongersprijs 2022
Artist-in-Residence (AiR)
- AiR Extrapool, Destillaat #24 - Nijmegen, The Netherlands 2022
(1 week)
- AiR Willem Twee - 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands 2022 - 2023
(1 year)
- AiR Atelier '89, Caribbean Linked VI - Oranjestad, Aruba 2022
(3 weeks)
- AiR Het Huis Utrecht - Utrecht, The Netherlands 2022
(1 week)
- AiR De Fabriek - Eindhoven, The Netherlands 2022
(2 weeks)
Publications
- Justin Reinir Croes: de start van een beloftevolle carrière
Willem Twee
Extrapool
- Amsterdam Stories #5: Tracing Tales of Caribbean Spirituality
Pakhuis de Zwijger via YouTube
- "Justin Reinir Croes krijgt Bossche kunstprijs Jheronimus én gratis atelier"
Brabants Dagblad
- "Dit zijn de winnaars van de Atelierprijzen"
Punt Avans
- "Interview met Justin Croes"
Stichting STeC via YouTube