Jelmer Wijnstroom

Jelmer Wijnstroom (b. 1993) is an independent art curator and researcher whose practice centers on deepening awareness of our surroundings and exploring the human imprint on both nature and urban landscapes. His curatorial projects often probe the intersections between culture, nature, and the mundane, encouraging viewers to see everyday spaces as constructed, dynamic, and layered with human history.

Jelmer has a particular interest in creating collaborative and experimental processes with artists, supporting long-term engagements that foster exploration and risk-taking. His work extends beyond traditional exhibition spaces, advocating for art’s presence in diverse environments where it can intersect with the lives of people who may not ordinarily engage with contemporary art. This has included projects in settings such as corporate art collections, hospitals, zoos, and botanical gardens, alongside more conventional art institutions.

Notable recent projects include Making Space at the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, an exhibition where artists examined the complex and often fraught relationship between humans and nature. Jelmer is currently involved in developing new art projects at ARTIS, reflecting his commitment to integrating art into various public and semi-public spaces.

Jelmer has organized and curated exhibitions for museums, project spaces, galleries, and art collections, with past collaborators including CODA Museum Apeldoorn, INDEBT, Kunstmuseum Den Haag, KM21, Patty Morgan, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and Warmoesstraat 67. His dedication to interdisciplinary dialogue and the study of contemporary art and subcultures is evident throughout his practice, which is characterized by a keen interest in clothing, urban traces, and the subtle rhythms of city life.

In 2021, Jelmer was awarded the VBCN OPEN Curatorial Award, and from early 2023 to early 2024, he served as a Curatorial Fellow at Buro Stedelijk. In addition to his curatorial work, he is an editor at Tubelight Magazine and serves on the art committee of Amsterdam UMC, further extending his engagement with the art community in both creative and advisory roles.