Jaco Putker

Jaco Putker (1971) is a contemporary artist and printmaker from The Hague, The Netherlands. He combines digital and traditional techniques to produce images which are both playful and sinister, nostalgic and magical.

His preferred medium is photopolymer, or solar plate, etching. This technique is a non-toxic way of etching which allow for photorealistic depictions. Rather than impose a meaning to his work, Jaco Putker invites the viewers to associate freely and give his etchings personal significance through individual perceptions and filters.

The titles of the etchings are descriptive and give no handle as to the meaning of the works. The artist considers his works to be illustrations to fables which don't exist, but hopefully take shape in the beholders' minds.

Jaco Putker was awarded with the dutch national Business Art Service competition for Graphic Arts in 2010. He won the Awagami Paper Factory Prize (at the Awagami International Miniature Print Exhibition) twice; in 2015, and again in 2017.

In 2017 he won the ON PAPER International Printmaking Award 2017, and the Award of Excellence at the “Authentic Marks 2nd Annual International Miniature Printmaking Exhibition 2018” in Dubai. In 2021 he was awarded first prize at the Art Open 20x20 Miniprint InternacionalBarcelona.

His work has been exhibited throughout Europe, as well as in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, China, Australia, Argentina, Canada and the USA.