Henk Cornelissen
Dutch design heritage
On 24 November 2022, Roots #58 about designer and teacher Henk Cornelissen was presented in Breda. Featuring speakers Robert van Rixtel, Frans Bevers, Pieter Vlaming and Dennis Elbers (host). Organisation: [Z]OO producties, WhynotCooperation and Graphic Matters.
The digital archive of previously unexhibited autonomous work was also unveiled. www.henkcornelissen.nl
Henk Cornelissen
Henk Cornelissen’s career starts in the mid-sixties in the United States, where he works in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco at some of the then leading design studios. In 1971, he returns to the Netherlands to teach at St. Joost art academy in Breda, where he remains until 2000. As a teacher heading the graphic design department he is of great influence to generations of students. He offers them both structure and freedom. His critical but honest work discussions leave a lasting impression. Henk establishes himself as an independent designer in Breda and from the mid-seventies for eight years runs his own studio for graphic and three-dimensional design.
After 1987, the year in which he creates a unique postal stamp design, he retires to his home-studio to work on his beloved graphic structures. He lets go of the security offered by working for clients. From this moment on, by choice Henk is at the mercy of what chance, say coincidence, fate, luck, destiny brings.
Dutch Graphic Roots is a series of online publications and aims at generating attention to the roots of Dutch graphic design culture. Read the complete Roots article about Henk Cornelissen on dutchgraphicroots.nl.
Text: Frans Bevers
Photos Roots presentation: Graphic Matters, Joost van Asch
Portrait photo: Aatjan Renders