(Dutch)
Loet Vanderveen was born in Rotterdam, Holland. His home was very close to the zoo where during his early years, Loet spent a great deal of his time. It was during this period in his life that he developed his love for animals. At night, listening to the sound of the wild animals in the zoo, he would fantasize about safaris to Africa…fantasies which were eventually realized! Hours before the bombardment of Rotterdam, the Dutch army was ordered to destroy all of the dangerous species in the zoo. The animals were destroyed as well as his home and these events led Loet into a new phase of his life.
He escaped from occupied Holland and upon his arrival in England, he was decorated for valor by Queen Wilhelmia. He served in the R.A.F. during the war. During the first eleven years following the war he lived in Zurich, London and New York working as a fashion designer. He was not satisfied with his profession and a meeting with Fong Chow, then curator of the Far Eastern Department of the Metropolitan Museum in New York, led to private ceramic studies with Fong for the next three years. He learned a great deal about Chinese glaze techniques and applying fine glazes to the correct forms. This knowledge eventually led to applying patinas to bronze animal forms.
Mr. Vanderveen left New York and built a mountain top house and studio 1,600 feet above the Pacific Ocean along California’s remote Big Sur coastline. This environment was incredibly conducive to Loet’s creativity. His first years in Big Sur were spent working on architectural commissions of ceramic, sculptured walls and lighting. Living in a remote area where there was an abundance of wildlife coupled with his love for animals prompted Loet to create ceramic animal forms. Striving for a more sophisticated and graceful image, he ventured into designing animals in bronze. These designs are enhanced by a rich palette of subtle patinas. These uniquely stylized interpretations are appreciated by distinguished worldwide collectors.
Work Exhibited:
Art Museum-Cincinnati, Ohio
Art Museum-Syracuse, New York
Crocker Gallery Museum-Sacramento, California
De Young Museum-San Francisco, California
Hirschl Adler Galleries-New York City
Minneapolis Art Institute-Minneapolis, Minnesota
Museum of Art-Oakland, California
Museum of Contemporary Crafts-New York City
Pasadena Art Museum-Pasadena, California
Monterey Museum of Art-Retrospective-Monterey, California
Architectural Commissions:
U.S. National Bank-Omaha, Nebraska
Borax Building-Los Angeles, California
Bush Gardens-Van Nuys, California
Carthay Circle Building-Los Angeles, California
Church Leisure World-Seal Beach, California
Fireman’s Union Building-Los Angeles, California
First Hebrew Congregational Church-Salinas, California
Northern California Savings Bank-Santa Cruz, California
Northern California Savings Bank-Menlo Park, California
Northern California Savings Bank-Los Altos, California
Cuesta College-San Luis Obispo, California
San Bernadino College-San Bernadino, California
Private Collectors:
H.M. Queen Elizabeth The King of Tonga
President and Mrs. Reagan Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Owings
King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz Mr. A.J. Foyt
Mr. Barry Manilow Ms. Elizabeth Taylor
President Suharto of Indonesia Mr. John D. Cabott Lodge
President Gerald Ford Mr. Burt Reynolds
Mr. Arnold Schwartzenegger Sheik Yamany of OPEC
Ms. Martina Navratilova Mr. Wilt Chamberlain
Prince Bendar Al Faisal Jacques Cousteau Society
The Royal Belgium Zoological Society Ms. Mary Tyler Moore
Federal Government of Switzerland Sultan of Oman
Mr. Wally Schira, Astronaut Mr. and Mrs. David Packard
Mr. Bill Cosby Senator Barry Goldwater
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