Merel Wendt (1999) is an illustrator, graphic artist and bottle enthusiast. 
Bottles are an inexhaustible source of inspiration to her, they function as characters in her work. As a maker, she tries to visualise her fascination with their form by manipulating their properties, such as shape, color and size.  She stretches, inflates and exaggerates them. In doing so, she aims to reacquaint the viewer to the bottle as both form and object.

Her illustrated bottle collection began as her graduation project called PFAND in which she used her role as illustrator and bottle enthusiast to visualise the invisible collection of Berlin's deposit collectors.
This culminated in a major form study of the bottle, which is still ongoing.  She takes an analogue approach in her work, using techniques such as lithography, screen printing, ceramics and pencil.

Education

2017-2021     BA Illustration and Animation Design
                        Academie Minerva Groningen, Cum Laude

2020              Internship with comic artist Nino Bulling, Berlin

Teaching experience

Academie Minerva Groningen
Nov 2023     Projectweek Fine Art year 1-4
                        Big-sized polyesterplate lithography
Sept 2023    Introductionweek Illustration Design year 2
                        Zine workshop
Nov 2022     Projectweek Fine Art year 2-3
                        Prints of collections, researching objects and lithography
                        in the public domain                    
Feb 2022      Projectweek Fine Art year 1
                        Prints of collections, collections of prints
                        Exploring objects and still-lives through polyesterplate-                                    lithography

VRIJDAG Groningen
2024 - now    Graphics, ceramics and illustration teacher
Mar 2024        Workshop Bottle Portraits 

Stichting De Vrolijkheid, Art Projects in Dutch Refugee Centres
2022 - 2023   Art workshop teacher, AZC Ter Apel
2022                 Art workshop teacher, AZC Burgum
          

Interviews and articles

Dagblad van het Noorden,  Veenkoloniën bekeken door jonge ogen
Dagblad van het Noorden,  Flessen met karakter

Contact

merelwendt@gmail.com
+31 614986010 
Paradijsvogelstraat 11F, Groningen

Solo exhibitions

2023        Flessenwerk, Galerie Noord Groningen
2022        PFAND, Kunstpunt Groningen

Group exhibitions

2024        Galerie Kunstsmederij, Grasnapolsky, Scheemda
2023        Feest der Herkenning, Galerie Noord Groningen
                  Heterdaad, MicksArt Gallery Emmen
                  Zonder Titel 2, CAMPIS Assen
                  Tijdcollages, Witte Olifanten IX, Streekhistorisch Centrum                                Stadskanaal (duo with Marijke Klamer)
                  Ten slotte, DAD Groningen
                   Window exhibition, Sec Marché Hattem
                   WEP SALON, WEP Groningen
2022         Drawing Zines, Drawing Centre Diepenheim
                  Fumetto Comic Festival, Luzern Switzerland
                   Night By The Young, Rozentheater Amsterdam
                   DAD Design Stories, Groningen
                   VPRO Dorst takeover 
2021          IJswee, CBK Emmen
                   Dutch Design Week, Klokgebouw Eindhoven 

                   Manifestatie Jong V, Galerie DSG Assen 

                   Detour, Graduation show Academy Minerva Groningen 

2020         Channeled, The Waterhouse Gallery, Groningen 

                   Like a Virgin, Galerie H200 Groningen 

2019          Panta Rhei, Grafiek2019 & Forma Aktua Groningen 

                   Illustratie57, Groningen (curation and organising seminars)

                   Grafiek in de Kerk, Woltersum

2018          Cross Comix, Rotterdam (student price nomination)

                   Allie van Altena Farewell Exhibition, Groningen