Renie Spoelstra,
winner of the 2026 Guerlain Prize
The Daniel & Florence Guerlain Contemporary Art Foundation’s Drawing Prize was awarded to the artist Renie Spoelstra on Thursday 26 March at the Salon du Dessin.
Working exclusively in charcoal on large formats, Renie Spoelstra immerses the viewer in landscapes of dense blacks and multiple gradations of grey — mountains, forests, clouds, lakes and rocks that become the protagonists of an intimate, timeless narrative.
Discover her work at the salon du dessin 2026, open until Monday 30 March.
Renie Spoelstra
Biography
Renie Spoelstra was born in 1974 in the Netherlands.
She graduated from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague.
She began exhibiting her work in 2007 and has participated in numerous institutional exhibitions, including at the Frac Picardie in Amiens, the Museum Belvedere in Heerenveen, the Rijksmuseum in Twenthe, and the Drawing Center in Diepenheim.
The work of Renie Spoelstra is included in the collections of the Macba in Barcelona, the Central Museum in Utrecht, the Stedelijk Museum in Schiedam, the Teylers Museum in Haarlem, the Musée National d’Art Moderne in Paris, and the collection of Florence and Daniel Guerlain. She is represented by the Ron Mandos Gallery in Rotterdam.
The work of Renie Spoelstra
With large formats featuring dense, deep blacks and multiple shades of gray, Renie Spoelstra immerses her viewers in landscapes that reflect her feelings. Mountains, forests, clouds, lakes, and rocks become the main characters in an intimate, timeless narrative.
Although she never gives precise details about the places she visits, Renie Spoelstra begins her journeys with long walks and periods of observation, recording images (photographs or videos). From the landscapes of the Netherlands to those of North America, Canada, and Peru, she lets her own emotions flow in response to what she sees.
Back in her studio, she takes screenshots and sets to work on often large-scale formats, exclusively in charcoal. This silent and solitary work allows her to rediscover the sensations she experienced in the face of the elements, moments of joy or resilience. These journeys result in multiple sheets of paper with rhythms set by the dissipating mist, cascading water, the tilt of trees, or the calm of lakes. She explains that the reflection of the water allows her to connect with her subconscious. She appreciates the connection that can be made, in this spiritual approach to landscape, with her compatriot Piet Mondrian, one of her favorite artists, particularly for his representation of trees.
“I like this way of emphasizing the space between the branches, which gives us the feeling of being truly present, of being able to observe and absorb nature. The idea is not to draw realistically, but rather from within… to feel the plant and then show it in the right way. To get to the very essence of the subject,” she explains.
Renie Spoelstra
Glacier View
High Altitude series, Peru, 2023
Charcoal on paper
240 x 350 cm.
©Renie Spoelstra.
Conceptual and dictated by a precise protocol, while embracing the classical tradition of charcoal, Renie Spoelstra’s work combines romanticism and existentialism. She often uses the words “experience” and “choice,” because working in the studio also involves selecting the right image.
“You have to know how to avoid the pitfall of aesthetics or beauty that is too immediate or too strong. The grandiose can be a trap, as can excessive detail…”
The series from the same trip can be interpreted in the vein of slightly mysterious or disturbing films, such as those by Alfred Hitchcock or David Lynch, where the total absence of characters allows the viewer to position themselves at the heart of the scene.
“What I’m looking for is to capture a moment and a feeling,” concludes Renie Spoelstra.
And also… a powerful sense of existence, we might add.
Renie Spoelstra
Mountains & Angels #4
High Altitude series, Peru 2023
Charcoal on paper
65 x 50 cm.
©Renie Spoelstra
The stand for the 2026 Daniel & Florence Guerlain Contemporary Art Foundation Drawing Prize at the Salon du Dessin
- More information about the Daniel and Florence Guerlain Contemporary Art Foundation Drawing Prize
- The artists nominated for the 2026 Drawing Prize
A Look at the Stand of the Musée d’art moderne André Malraux (MuMa – Le Havre)
A look at the stand of the André Malraux Museum of Modern Art (MuMa – Le Havre), guest of honour at the 2026 Salon du Dessin, which is exhibiting thirty-six works from its collection
The return of anonymous drawings at the Salon du Dessin
The Salon du Dessin is reviving an earlier tradition by dedicating a space to drawings whose authors have not yet been identified by the exhibitor presenting them.
Pierre Rosenberg signs at the Salon du Dessin
The Librairie du Louvre invites Pierre Rosenberg to its stand at the Salon du Dessin to sign copies of his latest book: “Nicolas Poussin: A Catalogue Raisonné of His Paintings”, on Thursday 26 March at 6pm, during the late-night opening. Don’t wait to discover the full selection of books, special…
Talk : “The Art of Drawing: Creative Processes”
This year at the Salon du dessin, Citadelles & Mazenod is hosting a lecture on the book “The Art of Drawing: Creative Processes”, attended by its author Éric Pagliano and moderated by Guy Boyer, editor-in-chief of Connaissance des Arts, on Thursday 26 March, at 7pm.
Drawing Week: registration is now open!
The 26th Drawing Week invites you to more than fifteen museums and institutions for private tours of exhibitions and graphic art collections.
Joint statement
The Salon du Dessin is a signatory to the joint declaration by art market professionals, cultural institutions, artists and representatives of the creative ecosystem.
Bella Maniera Publication Grant Third edition
The Salon du Dessin is pleased to announce the third edition of the Bella Maniera Publication Grant, a €3,000 prize that supports research on antique and 19th-century drawings. Applications are open until 1 December 2025.
The Salon du Dessin changes its chairmanship
The Salon du Dessin is now chaired by Florence Chibret-Plaussu (Galerie de La Présidence) and Hervé Aaron (Galerie Didier Aaron)
The 2025 edition of the Salon du dessin
• The musée des Beaux-Arts de Reims • The Tavolozza Foundation • The 18th Daniel & Florence Guerlain Contemporary Art Foundation Drawing Prize • Exhibitors' stands
Stay up to date
with the news from the Salon du Dessin
by subscribing to the newsletter
Follow us
on social media