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Mixed Media · Painting · Sculpture
Zaki Knapen presents his work as an answer to what he left behind 8 years ago at St. Martin in the Caribbean. His paintings became vaster in scale and the theme more precious in conception. The only thing that stayed were colors that seem to emerge out of the canvas. Discovering a multitude of painters as Hoffman, Mitchell, Jackson, Pollock and many others transferred their experiences to the concept of his recent work.
The French Series were born as a memory from his European heritage. Bit by bit the transformation resulted in the Edo Series.
Living in Chicago provided the action for a new identity with the Chicago Series. The abstraction of the skyline occurring in the light of the season or a specific time.
On a whimsical note he created the American Stereotype Series.
In 2008, “No Room for Buffalo” emerged. Inspired by the lonely and mysterious sailing experiences throughout the world, and the thought of the American Indians occupying the vast plains. It explores the form, shape, colors, splatters, drippings, and scratchings in different directions, giving the viewer a meaning for a wandering over the canvas without specific direction.
Finally “Light in the Dark“. Discovering work from Robert Motherwell and Rothko, the work became more simple — just here and there a line and a splash of color.
Zaki discovered sculpting in a variety of media and style. Bronze, steel, or cast iron and resin are used, depending on the execution.
Writing became another passion. He wrote his first book, “The Loot“. The second book “Disengaged” was just accepted by his publisher.
The artist collected 15 awards in national and international competitions. His work in the Master’s Class was three times selected in The Juried American Art Salon in Plano, Texas.
Affiliations
Fine Art Director, Naperville Art League
Executive Director, Alliance of the Fine Arts
Member, Elmhurst Artists’ Guild
DuPage Art League
Chicago Art Institute · Chicago Artist Coalition · Lombard Artists Coalition
Planet Collage · Batavia Water Street Studios
Zaki kindly donated his collection to the Institute for the Arts & Education, a 501c3 non-profit organization. Proceeds benefit Youth Art Education. Contact Patty Narozny — 248-762-2462 · 941-755-3088
Zaki (Knapen) · Mixed Media
Hot Works Art Shows
Sarasota Fine Art Show
May 30 & 31, 2026 — Best of Show
Boca Raton Fine Art Shows
January 26 & 27, 2019 — Best of Show
January 23 & 24, 2015 — Best of Show
January 25 & 26, 2014 — Award of Excellence
January 20–22, 2012 — Best of Show
Miami Fine Art Show at Coconut Grove
December 14 & 15, 2019 — Award of Distinction
Naples Fine Art Show at Shoppes at Vanderbilt
March 30 & 31, 2019 — Award of Distinction
Estero Fine Art Shows
Miromar Design Center · JetBlue Park
January 4 & 5, 2020 — Award of Distinction
January 5 & 6, 2019 — Best of Show
November 18 & 19, 2017 — Award of Distinction
November 15 & 16, 2014 — Award of Distinction
Zaki judged the youth art competition integrated in most of Hot Works art shows.
2009
Pittsburgh Carnegie Hall — two paintings selected: Plasmania and Rupture
Effe Leven Gallery group show The Black Tour
Naperville Art League — Fabulous Fakes Meritt Award
Naperville Art League — “Shock Wave” Installation art
DuPage Art League — “The Heat is On” Group Show
Lombard Artist Association Sculpture show — University of Health and Science
Au Naturel Clatsop Astoria Oregon “Yumi” — Appeared on exhibition poster
DuPage Art League Grip Down the Road — Merritt Award
Step by Step production DuPage Art Fair
Elmhurst Artist Guild 2009 Spring Show Group Exhibition
Craft and Art Fair Odeon Villa Park
Naperville Art League — Merrit award for On the Edge
DuPage Art League — Best of Show with Art Imitates Art
Elmhurst Artists Guild — 3rd prize spring member show
Naperville Art League — Best theme award Are you Angry
Riverside Art Fair · Bloomingdale Art Fair · Art and Antique Fair Chicago
Algonquin Art on the Fox — Third Prize award
Naperville Art League — Best of Show Dreamworks
Selected with On the Edge for the Schoenherr Gallery, Naperville
St Charles Art on the Fox — 2nd prize award
2008
Co-organizer Best of the Best AFA
Mayslake Peabody Estate Art Fair coordinator
Au Naturel — Nude in the 21st Century, Clatsop Gallery Astoria Oregon
Third Prize Elmhurst Artist Guild spring show
April 25–28 The Artist Project
Art in the Park Elmhurst Art Fair
Cantigny Fine Art Fair, Wheaton
Group Show Naperville University
Broadway School of Dance — backdrop painting for summer show
Art and Antique Fair Randolph Chicago
Best Them Award Jitters Show your Time is Up NAL
Four New Orleans Group work Boca Gallery
Restoration Mayslake Peabody Estate group exhibition
Best of Show DuPage Art League with If it’s True
Selected with Recover at the Northbrook Library “Caught in the Act”
Glencoe Art Fair · Gold Coast Art Fair
Executive Director for the Alliance of Fine Arts — a non profit
Best of Show Naperville Art League Jitters Art installation
Merrit Award “A Story Told” Naperville Art League
Illustration for the Stock Yard Magazine
Bloomington Art Fair · Palatine Art Fair · Skokie Art Fair
Effe Leven Gallery — Erotica show group
Effe Leven Gallery — Woman in the arts group show
Effe Leven Gallery — Architecture and transportation group show
Health and Science Clinic group show
Best Them Award NAL
Art Impact Lake Michigan — 4 panel painting selected for the Merchandise Market
Harlington Heights Northwest Cultural Council group show
Northbrook Caught in the Act Group Show
United Creations NY — 8 paintings from the American Stereotype for Creation of Life
Selected for Munich, Frankfurt, Istanbul through Bang & Olufsen
2007
Pinata project — 1st prize award Aurora
“The Eye of God” exhibition River Breeze Gallery Aurora
“Levitation” River Breeze Gallery Aurora February
“Peace be with you” River Breeze Gallery
Naperville Art League “Colors never Slumber” — Best Theme award
Forward Back Nards — Honorable mention
April Elmhurst Art Guild Best of the Best 2007
Honorable Mention May Elmhurst Art Guild — spring show
Naperville Art League “Old Friends” Exhibition
Broadway School of Dance — backdrop stage painting
Selected in the Master Class Plano, Texas
Accepted in White Columns Gallery, New York
Cantigny Art Fair · Naperville Art League Best of Show
Old Town Square Art Fair, Wheaton · Art of the Masters Joliet
Bench Parade City of Lisle “Pollack sat here”
Naperville Art League — Fine Art Director (non-profit)
People’s Choice Award exhibition Elmhurst · Member of the CAC
Rock Around the Clock Art Fair, Chicago
Freedom Frail as Glass exhibition for the 4th of July
Urbana Art Fair · Forest Lake Art Fair · Glen Ellyn Art Fair
Article Art News USA — August edition
Naperville University Art solo exhibition “Bagatelle”
Wits End Aurora solo exhibition “Apres Tout”
CAC Chicago open 2007 group exhibition
DuPage Art Fair, St. Charles
Art and Antique Fair Randolph Chicago · Antioch Art Fair
Broadway School of Dance — backdrop Christmas show
Ashland, Oregon solo exhibition “Personal Impact”
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