Abstraction and assemblage in the open air
Visser's works come from museum collections, private collections, and public spaces. Together, they offer a versatile overview of his career, in which he developed from figurative sculptures to geometrically abstracted assemblages.
His early work shows influences from sculptors like Constantin Brancusi and Alberto Giacometti, but Visser quickly developed his own visual language, where balance, material, and rhythm are central.
"Carel Visser gave Dutch sculpture a new direction with his abstract forms and constructive approach."
Iconic work on familiar ground
Some of Visser's sculptures are already familiar territory for visitors to the Rijksmuseum. His sculpture Eight Stacked Beams (1964) has been on display in the garden for years, and in 2024, his works Signal 1 and 2 (also from 1964) will receive a permanent place in the garden design.
The exhibition brings together these familiar sculptures with works that have rarely or never been shown in this context.
The power of material and form
Visser worked with steel, wood, rubber, and found objects. In his sculptures, he continually explored the relationship between mass, space, and repetition. His assemblages are often composed of simple forms that together create a strong rhythmic whole – monumental, yet never heavy.
In the green context of the Rijksmuseum Gardens, these qualities are particularly highlighted. The interaction between nature and abstraction makes this exhibition a unique visual experience for lovers of photography, spatial design, and visual arts.
Practical information
Exhibition: Carel Visser in the Rijksmuseum Gardens
Location: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Period: June 5 to October 25, 2026
Admission: Regular museum ticket
Number of works: More than 15 sculptures
Collections: Museums, private collections, public space
Partners: Don Quixote Foundation/Rijksmuseum Fund, Pon, Rijksmuseum Club
Final thought
The exhibition around Carel Visser invites slow viewing and reflection. In a time when images are often fleeting, his work compels one to slow down and deepen. For photographers and visual creators, this outdoor exhibition offers not only inspiration in terms of form and material but also an invitation to reconsider spatial composition and visual calm.
