Michiel Folkers

Netherlands·3 artworks

Michiel Folkers (1982) is a contemporary artist based in Amsterdam, where the city’s raw textures, layered surfaces, and street culture continue to shape his artistic practice. Beginning as a graffiti artist in the late 1990s, his work still carries traces of the urban environment through paint marks, found materials, and a strong sense of spontaneity. Since 2016, Folkers has focused on his iconic teddy bear series, which has become central to his work. By pressing old and discarded teddy bears into ink and onto different surfaces, he creates playful yet powerful compositions that balance innocence with intensity. The physical imprinting process gives each piece a unique energy and emotional depth. His work explores the relationship between control and chance, often allowing materials and textures to influence the final result. Combining urban influences with nostalgic motifs, Folkers creates works that feel both contemporary and emotionally charged.