Yvan Veninga

Yvan Veninga is a classically trained sculptor from Haren in the Netherlands. His work draws strength from his subjects and his command of form and material.

During the creation process, Veninga engages intensely with his portraits of people and animals. Through carving, modeling, or casting, he works to make the invisible visible—to capture a presence that can be felt, much as we sense a person we cannot see. When the essence of the model emerges through the sculptural surface, the work is complete. For Veninga, a piece succeeds only when it conveys life, as though it might shift its gaze or move at any moment.

Veninga creates both direct carvings in stone and wood, and built-up sculptures in clay, wax, and plaster that are cast in bronze. He works with care on composition, anatomy, and the finishing of each piece.