STORYTELLING ART IS ABOUT MESSAGES FOR LIFE”

Toshy is a multi-disciplinary Dutch artist who aims to trigger and inspire. He sees the world as a podium to display art as a communication form without limitations. Influenced by social topics, fashion trends and facts of life, Toshy creates stories, quotes, messages and designs. His creativity has no boundries. You can expect paintings, photography, copywriting, video, graphics and music. Art in every possible form, storytelling art!

Scroll down and find out about his background, inspiration, tattoos and more.

TOSHY. WHAT’S IN THE NAME?

The eighties

Toshy, child of the eighties, he grew up with HipHop and Breakbeat, got  inlfuenced by Madonna, Prince, George Michael and Jean Paul Gaultier. Saw models like Naomi Campbell,Kate Mose and linda Evangalista become supermodels and Mtv was on. An era where artists became famous because of their powerful message to the world. Taboos were broken, urban cultures influenced fashion and House Music was born. Toshy joined the acid and newbeat House Scene (1987). And dived into a world of trippin’ beats and colourful visuals projected by VJ’s in dark clubs and illegal houseparties through Europa.

Too shy

At the age of 16 (1986) Toshy saw the documentary “Style Wars” and created his first graffiti paintings. By the urban dictionary he choose for “Toshy” which was slang for “rubbish or crap”. Toshy was “too shy” to be proud of his pieces in the streets of The Netherlands so he signed it with “crap (Toshy)”. At that time he didn’t know what Toshy would bring him later.

Illegal rubbish

At age 17 he created his first commissioned art and the Dutch press asked him for interviews. He became more famous and to continue his illegal art by night Toshy had to change his tagname many times. He used names like; Trouble, Scan and One.  At age 19 Toshy stopped with his illegal graffiti activities, it was too difficult to work anonymous. And he missed the excitement of the creating art in the streets.

 

From ‘crap’ to king

When you look up the urban dictionary for “Toshy” the explanation “crap” is gone. When you look for “Toshi” now you’ll get the explanation “King”. From illegal (rubbish/crap) graffiti artist in the streets to a king with art in galleries to products, collaborations and a lifestyle brand.

Begin nineties Toshy finished the school of advertising and design and started his carreer as a creative director (1993 – 2012). He used his multidisciplinary skills for the advertising industry.

A new era

Since 2012 Toshy sees the world as a podium to display art as a communication form without limitations. As a multidisciplinary artist he likes to combine and use his skills in illustration, music composing, graphic/product/interior design, typography, videography, photography and copywriting to create a new style of communication. “Storytelling art”. In Milan they used to call him a 360° artist.

 

 

MESSAGES FOR LIFE

Toshy and his tattoos and meanings

A multidisciplinary artist

“If I can imagine it I can create it” 

The world is your stage!

Like Frank Sinatra once sang “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere” Toshy likes to turn it the other way around. 

I you can’t make it here you can make it somewhere else. There will always be a place where you can fulfill your dreams

Original Indian ink on paper & Screenprint

“BE a king or a queen of your own life”

Available on request

Shop Art on paper

HIGHLIGHTS

A list that will grow and grow… 

  • live painting for Ripcurl & Posca UK – Newquay (United Kingdom)

  • meet and greet signing at Rough Trade – London (United kingdom)

  • competitor Grolsch 400 – Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

  • exhibition Bricklane Gallery – London (United kingdom)

  • wall painting performance “Walls Talk”- Sabadell (Spain)

  • winner international contest Upfest festival – Bristol (United Kingdom)

  • exhibition and live painting for Erika Lust – Barcelona (Spain)

  • live painting “Bloggernet” – Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

  • exhibition ”Citizen M” – Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

  • charity art for Skate for air – Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

  • exhibition – Dongen (The Netherlands)

  • exhibition – Cliche Middelburg

  • exhibition Urban Art House – Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

  • exhibition Rabobank – Den Bosch (The Netherlands)

  • exhibition Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) , Urban Art House – Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

  • representing The Netherlands for “Art Warning The World” – International art project

  • live painting Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), Flooral – Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

  • auction painting “Thé Lau” for charity – Free a Girl – Blaricum (The Netherlands)

  • exhibition – Gallery Ina Dederer & Friends – Zürich (Switzerland)

  • exhibition “Hands on deck” Pier 15 – Breda (The Netherlands)

  • exhibition expo “Art Monaco” – Monaco (Monaco)

  • exhibition expo “Art Zürich” – Zürich (Switzerland)

  • exhibition “Legends” Hard Rock Cafe – Amsterdam (The Netherlands)>

  • meet & greet, live painting and signing – Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

  • public show “Love Now!” – De Dam Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

  • public show “Love Now!” – Mauerpark Berlin (Germany)

  • love now! Wall painting – Barcelona (Spain)

  • art battle Westbank Gallery – London (United kingdom)

  • exhibition Westbank Gallery – London (United kingdom)

  • solo exhibition “Love Now!” – Atzaro Ibiza (Spain)

  • exhibition “seduce me” gallery Het Kunsthuys – Best (The Netherlands

  • commissioned wall painting – London Drawing – London (United kingdom)

  • >solo exhibition “Legends” gallery Mijn Lijstenmakerij  – Hilversum (The Netherlands)

  • exhibition gallery “Het Kunsthuys”  – Best (The Netherlands)

  • painting for charity (Dutch A.L.S. Foundation) – Eindhoven (The Netherlands)

  • exhibition “fragrance is who you are” – Pitti Florence (Italy)

  • exhibition gallery “Rembrandt”  – Eindhoven (The Netherlands)

  • exhibition gallery “TON”  – Rucphen (The Netherlands)

  • live painting for Normann Copenhagen – Salone di Mobile Milan (Italy)
Fear nothing but yourself Toshy handpainted shirt

Handpainted Tshirt – Fear nothing!

€125,00

Get yourself a one of a kind handpainted tshirt!. Be unique expose yourself with this Toshy shirt. Toshy painted his message “Fear nothing but yourself” on this grey/green shirt. SIze: M

 

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Love Now! handpainted short by Toshy

Handpainted Tshirt – Love Now!

€125,00

Get yourself a one of a kind handpainted tshirt!. Be unique expose yourself with this Toshy shirt. Toshy painted his quote “Love Now!” on a greay/green shirt. Be part of the worldwide Love Now! project and connect your heart. SIze: M

 

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Be one in a million be a light to others Toshy handpainted shirt

Handpainted Tshirt – One in a million

€125,00

Get yourself a one of a kind handpainted tshirt!. Be unique expose yourself with this Toshy shirt. Toshy painted his quote “Be one in a million be a light to others” illustrated with his star icon. SIze: M

 

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handpainted shirt rock on artist Toshy

Handpainted Tshirt – Rock On!

€125,00

Get yourself a one of a kind handpainted tshirt!. Be unique expose yourself with this Toshy shirt.

Toshy painted his message “Rock on!” on this grey/green shirt. SIze:M

 

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