Jeanne Van Heeswijk

Convening ringleader

Jeanne van Heeswijk is a visual artist who facilitates the creation of dynamic and diversified public spaces in order to “radicalize the local.” Van Heeswijk embeds herself as an active citizen in communities, often working for years at a time. These long-scale projects, which have occurred in many different countries, transcend the traditional boundaries of art in duration, space and media and questions art’s autonomy by combining performative actions, meetings, discussions, seminars and other forms of organizing and pedagogy. Inspired by a particular current event, cultural context or intractable social problem, she dynamically involves neighbors and community members in the planning and realization of a given project. As an “urban curator,” van Heeswijk’s work often unravels invisible legislation, governmental codes and social institutions, in order to assist communities controlling their own futures. Noted projects include: Public Faculty (2015-ongoing),  Homebaked in Liverpool (November 2011 - present); Freehouse, Radicalizing the Local in Rotterdam (September 2008- present), Philadelphia Assembled, Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia (2014-2017), Trainings for the Not-Yet, BAK, Basis voor Actuele Kunst in Utrecht (2018-2019) and It’s OK… Commoning Uncertainties, Oude Kerk in Amsterdam (2030-2023).