Artist Statement
As a young boy it was comics that inspired me to draw, and art has been my passion ever since. In my observations of daily life, I explore the effects of light and reflections on contrast and colour harmony. My painting style is grounded in classic and impressionistic oil painting practice. In printmaking I work primarily with linocuts, including reduction prints, blind emboss, collage and text. My painting and printmaking are both influenced by European graphic novels and Dutch graphic tradition. My approach to layout and composition is significantly influenced by my experience in advertising and graphic design in Europe and Canada. Similarly, narrative and visual contrast—in colour and value— are essential elements in my work. Traditionally, relief prints were used for illustrations; likewise I create my linocuts as narrative pieces.
Awards and Grants
Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Arts Council, 2013, 2020, 2023
Annual Juried Exhibition, Station Gallery, Whitby, second prize, 2022
Annual Juried Show, Art Gallery of Bancroft, honorary mention in the Still Life category, 2019
Leadership in Arts & Culture Recognition Award from Peterbrough County, 2015
Annual Juried Show, The Lindsay Gallery jurors award, 2012
Colour and Form Society Biennial Open Juried Exhibition, third prize, 2012
Seventh Annual Juried Art Show, Quest Art School + Gallery, Midland, Ontario, second prize, 2011
Buckhorn Wild Festival Amateur Art Competition, Buckhorn, Ontario, 1st prize Open Section, 2004
Bibliography
Cross Cut: Traditional Ontario Folk Songs Revisited exhibit coming to Lang Pioneer Village, The Peterborough Examiner, 2022
Local artists launch folk song exhibit at Lang, The Lakefiled Herald, 2022
‘Channel’, Book of linoprints from Roll-O-Matic – Public Acts of Printmaking, ArtsWeek Peterborough, 2018
Impressionable Impressions, Chromatic Contrapposto art blog, 2013
‘Rob Niezen reveals the overlooked dream world of our cities at Gallery in the Attic’ by Michael Fazackerly in KwarthaNow, 2013
AGP Inaugural Triennial exhibition catalogue, 2012
Centennial Anniversary Calendar, Siemens Canada, Burlington, Ontario, 2012
100: A Century of Siemens in Canada, Siemens Canada, Burlington, Ontario, 2012
My Favourite Place Calendar, Art School of Peterborough, Ontario, 2011, 2010 and 2009
Corporate and Public Collections
Kawartha Art Gallery, Lindsay
Agnes Jamieson Gallery, Minden
Siemens Canada, Burlington, Ontario
SickKids, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
Peterborough Optometric Centre, Peterborough
Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough, Ontario
Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments Inc, Peterborough, Ontario
Representation
Launch Gallery — Peterborough, Ontario
Studio 22 Fine Art — Kingston, Ontario
Art Gallery of Bancroft — Bancroft, Ontario
Colborne Street Gallery — Fenelon Falls, Ontario
Watson & Lou — Peterborough, Ontario