History
In 1984, TORCH Gallery was established by Adriaan van der Have as a stage for Dutch and international contemporary Art. In those days the medium photography was not even regarded as an art form. Van der Have was among the first to see the potential for high art in the medium. He continued to take risks on new ways of expression, making him a pioneer promoter of photography, veejay-art and finally digital image editing as respectable forms of contemporary Art. Now his son, Mo, continues his legacy.
Functioning as a springboard for emerging Dutch artists, TORCH was the starting point for many artists like Anton Corbijn and Inez van Lamsweerde. By keeping a keen eye on developments in the art world, the gallery was one of the first to attend many of today's leading art fairs (like the Armory show, Art Basel, Paris photo, Pulse and Art Dubai).
Besides promoting talent from the Netherlands, TORCH also tries to bring promising international artists into the limelight. Today, the gallery continues this vision by representing and showcasing contemporary artists such as Philip Akkerman, Popel Coumou, TINKEBELL., Erik de Bree, Casper Braat and Anya Janssen. TORCH continues to light the way for the artists of tomorrow.
Owner / Director: Mo van der Have
Mission
Our mission is to function as a springboard for emerging Dutch artists and bring promising international artists into the limelight. By keeping a keen eye on developments in the art world, we aim to put emerging talent under international attention and connect them with our broad network of collectors, artists, and curators.
We do not restrict our vision to a typical style or medium. While our artists' approaches differ wildly, they are united by a serious commitment to their profession and a refreshing perspective on our world.
We envision a gallery that never fears the occasional clash with the boundaries of good taste, consistently providing an international stage for themes like identity, sensuality, nature, and the flight from reality.
Gallery Fair Practice Code
TORCH Gallery endorses and complies with the Gallery Fair Practice Code — a shared standard developed by the Dutch art sector to promote transparency, fair remuneration, and good working conditions for artists and gallery professionals.