herman de vries (1931 Alkmaar, Netherlands) is a Dutch artist and a central figure in European art of the second half of the 20th century. He intentionally stylizes his name in lowercase to avoid hierarchy.
Since 1954, de vries has worked with mobiles, collage, monochromes, and experimental publications, playing a pivotal role in the Dutch Nul group and the international ZERO movement. His practice explores the essential, seeking to uncover the fundamental processes of life through art. Early works, described as informal, reject figuration and traditional color, introducing randomness as a principle of order, a concept that has guided his work across decades.
Over time, de vries has increasingly focused on the relationship between humanity and nature, integrating natural materials, organic processes, and ecological reflection into his installations, objects, and environmental interventions. His work continuously bridges art, science, and philosophy, inviting reflection on perception, life, and the natural world.
de vries’ work is represented in major museum collections worldwide. He was featured in the 2014–2015 ZERO exhibitions at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, the Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin, and the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam. In 2015, he represented the Netherlands at the Venice Biennale, presenting a project in the national pavilion and on Lazzaretto Vecchio island, widely praised by critics and audiences alike.
herman de vries lives and works with his wife Susanne in Eschenau near Knetzgau, Germany, continuing to explore the intersections of nature, perception, and essential artistic action.
For information on available works by the artist, please contact the gallery.