Douglas Knesse
b. 1996
Biography
Douglas Knesse (b. 1996, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) began his artistic career at the age of eighteen, initially exhibiting in his own studio, independent spaces, and unconventional locations. His multidisciplinary practice moves between painting, audiovisual culture, music, and streetwear, establishing a dialogue between contemporary visual culture and the legacies of Action Painting, Abstract Expressionism, and Pop Art.
His paintings combine an energetic, gestural approach with a visual language inspired by coastal landscapes, palm trees, flowers, and botanical forms. Through layers of colour, spontaneous marks, and a direct engagement with materials, Knesse explores the relationship between the body, the painting process, and the construction of the image.
His practice has gained increasing international recognition through exhibitions and artist residencies, including the Zoumboulakis Contemporary Artist Residency in Athens, Greece (2026); From the Dark Waters, Life Blooms at Makasiini Contemporary in Helsinki, Finland (2026); Harvest Under the Sun at Simchowitz Gallery in Los Angeles, USA (2025); and the Cape Town Art Residency in South Africa (2024).
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