©2023
Rob van Leijsen (1983, Tilburg, The Netherlands) is a multidisciplinary designer and author based in Geneva, Switzerland. His practice mainly aims at commissioned and research projects in the cultural field, notably editorial design. He currently runs his own design studio and teaches at the visual communication department of HEAD – Genève. In 2012 he finished his master in design Spaces and communication at HEAD – Genève with “Art Handling in Oblivion”, a catalogue that assembles five art collections that have been stolen during wartime. Art Handling in Oblivion was subsequently published by edition fink in 2014, and selected — as part of the fink twice series —, as one of “The Most Beautiful Swiss Books of 2014” and it received an Honorary Appreciation at the “Best Book Design from all over the World” competition in Leipzig in 2015.
In the spring of 2019 he presented The Drone Chronicles, an editorial diptych that documents the evolution and integration of drones in our society. The book is published by the Centre de la photographie Genève and Spector Books. His most recent book, Copy, Tweak, Paste: Methods of Appropriation in Re-enacted Artists’ Books, is a print adaptation of the original essay published online in JAR # 13 (Journal for Artistic Research). The bilingual publication (EN/FR) was published in 2020 by éditions clinamen.
Through his self-initiated research projects, Van Leijsen urges to reveal historical, social and geopolitical aspects that otherwise remain underexposed. The editorial format fits his comparative and journalistic approach and meticulous arrangements of data and archive material. It is on the fine line between art, design and research that he positions himself and that he is most comfortable.
CV
EDUCATION
— 2012-2013, ZHdK Zürich, Certificate in Advanced Studies (CAS) in Artistic Research
— 2010-2012, HEAD – Genève, Master Design Spaces and Communication (MA with mention excellent)
— 2003-2008, AKV | St. Joost, Breda), Graphic Design (BA)
WORK EXPERIENCE
— 2012 (Sept)-present, Independent graphic designer
— 2015 (Sept)-present, Guest teacher, Head – Genève,
visual communication department
— 2019 (Jan)-present: Member of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Ville de Nyon
— 2012 (Sept)-2015 (Sept), Assistant teacher, HEAD – Genève, visual communication department
— 2011 (July), Intégral Philippe Délis, Casablanca
— 2008 (Oct)-2010 (Aug), Buro Petr van Blokland + Claudia Mens, Delft
NOMINATIONS/AWARDS
— 2023: Volumes Award, Zu?rich
— 2022: Bourse “Covid-culture”, Ville de Genève
— 2018: Prix Artistique de la Ville de Nyon
— 2015: “The Most Beautiful Swiss Books of 2014”
— 2015: “ The Best Book Design from all over the World”, honorary appreciation, Leipzig (DE) 2015
— 2014: “Bourse Déliees”, Fonds Cantonal d’Art Contemporain Geneva (FCAC), Geneva
— 2014: Research grant, IRAD department, HEAD – Genève
— 2012: Prix AHEAD, Fondation AHEAD, Geneva
PUBLICATIONS
— 2022: Artist’s Book Yearbook 2022-2023, Book Arts, UWE Bristol
— 2022: PAGE – Design. Code. Business., Hamburg
— 2021: Artists’ Book Reviews
— 2019: We Make Money Not Art
— 2018: “Legible – Visible - Between the Film Frame and the Page”, Arts Santa Mònica, Barcelona
— 2017: ‘Copy, Tweak, Paste: Methods of Appropriation in Re-enacted Artists’ Books’, JAR#13, www.jar-online.net
— 2015: Art Handler Magazine, New York
— 2015: IDPURE #37
— 2015: Catalogue of ‘The Most Beautiful Swiss Books of 2014’
— 2015: Mister Motley Magazine
— 2013: l’Empathie ou l’expérience de l’autre, Design Biennial St-Étienne
— 2013: Hochparterre Themenhefte: ECAL & HEAD
— 2013: Étapes #211
— 2012: Étapes #210
— 2012: Slanted #20
— 2011: Slanted #15
EXHIBITIONS
— 2022: Everyday Errors and Actions, Printroom, Rotterdam
— 2020: Through the book(s), Leporello Books, Rome
— 2020: Copy, Tweak, Paste, Espace HIT, Genève
— 2019: The Drone Chronicles (solo), Gallery Eeeeh!, Nyon
— 2018: SKOOB, Gallery One Gee in Fog, Chêne-Bourg
— 2017: “Llegible – Visible”, Arts Santa Mònica, Barcelona
— 2016: “Lauréats des Bourses Déliées”, Flux Laboratory, Geneva and Zurich
— 2016: “Swiss Style Now” (group show), The Cooper Union, New York
— 2015: “The Most Beautiful Swiss Books of 2014”, Helmhaus Zu?rich
— 2015: “Bourses de la ville de Genève” (group show), Center for Contemporary Art (CAC) Geneva
— 2014: 26th International Biennial of Graphic Design, Brno, Czech Republic
— 2013: “Nouvelle Génération” by HEAD – Genève (group show), Design Days, Geneva
— 2013: “Dream Team” (group show), Design Biennial St-Étienne
— 2013: “Suspense” by HEAD – Genève (group show), Art Genève
— 2012: “Art Handling in Oblivion” (Solo), RosaBrux, Brussels
— 2012: Graphic Design Festival Breda, 2012
— 2011: “Black & White are not colours”, Ship of Fools Gallery, The Hague
— 2011: Chaumont Poster Festival (with Holy Grey)
— 2011: “Dip in Space”, HEAD – Geneva &
matali crasset, Salone del Mobile Milano— ‘The Fliproom’, Printroom Rotterdam (with Holy Grey), 2011
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