Events — Sep 7, 2025

In this Artist Talk, Karel Martens and Thomas Castro, curator of graphic design at the Stedelijk Museum will “flip-through” 200 pages of Martens' works and invite the audience to participate in a lively conversation of anecdotes, insights, and unique examples of works, systems and sketches from his personal archive. From stamps and books to monoprints, architectural signage and digital experiments, this is a unique opportunity to dive deep into the work of one of the most influential voices in graphic design.

Price
Valid museum ticket + €3,-
Location
Auditorium
Time
Sep 7, 2 pm until 3.15 pm
Main language
Nederlands
Admission
Tickets

Karel Martens – Unbound brings together more than 65 years of work, including book covers, autonomous prints, textiles, kinetic sculptures, and letter installations on buildings. It also highlights how his working method and mentality have left their mark on the work of younger generations of designers and artists at home and abroad. 

The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through Martens' creative process, surprising logic, and ingenious systems. Martens tirelessly explores the boundaries of printing processes, graphic forms, and the construction of typography.

About the Artist Talk

In this Artist Talk, Karel Martens and Thomas Castro, curator of graphic design at the Stedelijk Museum will “flip-through” 200 pages of Martens' works and invite the audience to participate in a lively conversation of anecdotes, insights, and unique examples of works, systems and sketches from his personal archive.    

The audience will be invited to participate in the conversation by choosing which works to focus on, moving between the following themes: the language of an experimenter, or how Martens experiments with the molecules of graphic design — from paper to ink, from grids to pixels. Martens career as a teacher and how it has influenced his own design practice. How Martens approaches books as architectural spaces, and architectural spaces as books. How Karel designs generative systems that themselves lead to designs. The evolution of  Martens’ work from traditional printing techniques to digital tools.  

The talk will end with an open Q&A.

This Artist Talk is part of an inspiring series of conversations designed to provide a deeper insight into the artistic expression of talented artists. Enter the mind of an artist and gain deeper insights.

Want to secure a spot for an Artist Talk? Book your ticket in advance here.

Credits

Image: Installation view, Karel Martens – Unbound, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, 2025. Photo: Peter Tijhuis