| Utrecht, 8 October 2025 - Utrecht's Jaarbeursboulevard has been temporarily enriched with three monumental works of art by internationally renowned artist Arne Quinze (1971). By placing these sculptures, Royal Jaarbeurs, Wonderwoods and Bioscoop Kinepolis Jaarbeurs are jointly fulfilling their ambition to make the boulevard a lively meeting place. The artworks are also a foretaste of the summer exhibition that Jaarbeurs plans to organise in 2026, inviting artists to transform the exhibition halls with monumental installations.
A place with potential: art as an impulse for an attractive boulevard
Although the boulevard now functions mainly as a transit route, it is a location with enormous potential: located in the heart of Utrecht, right next to Central Station, near Jaarbeurs, Kinepolis, restaurants, the Wonderwoods flats and offices and the future Beurskwartier district. With art in the public space, the initiators want to further enrich the experience of this place. Esther Driessen, head of corporate communications at Royal Jaarbeurs: "Art has the power to transform public spaces: it enhances the appearance of an area, creates a sense of pride and identity among residents, surprises visitors and contributes to a pleasant and safe environment. At Jaarbeurs, we believe in the power of meeting. That is why we create fascinating events where people inspire, strengthen and help each other. These artworks add an extra dimension to that: they make the boulevard not just a transit route, but a place where people stop, experience connection and get new ideas."
Flower-shaped eye-catchers
The three sculptures are part of Arne Quinze's famous Lupine Series: greatly enlarged flower shapes that depict the beauty of nature in its continuous cycle of blooming, decay and renewed flowering. In an urban setting of stone and glass, they form striking, organic accents that invite wonder and stillness. "I hope that passers-by are invited to pause, to wonder. The sculptures pop up unexpectedly in an urban setting and make people think about the role of nature in the city. His work reminds us that nature is not a decoration, but a foundation of our existence. Especially in an environment of stone and glass, these flower shapes bring a different rhythm, a moment of wonder," says Esther Driessen.
Preview: JAARBEURS X ART
The sculptures are also a preview of JAARBEURS X ART, a summer exhibition in 2026 in which artists are invited to play the exhibition halls of Jaarbeurs with monumental works.
The installation of the sculptures is an initiative of Royal Jaarbeurs, a.s.r. real estate on behalf of Wonderwoods and Bioscoop Kinepolis Jaarbeurs, with support from the Utrecht Entrepreneurs Fund.
Arne Quinze (1971) started his career as a graffiti artist in Belgium and grew into an internationally renowned sculptor and installation artist. His work is characterised by monumental sculptures made of wood and steel, often constructed from rhythmic shapes reminiscent of swarms or waves. With bright colours, he breaks through the grey monotony of the city and brings energy and optimism to public spaces.Quinze sees art as a way to bring people together and make them reflect on their surroundings. His installations can be found in cities all over the world, from Brussels to Shanghai and from Miami to Dubai. He also impressed at the Burning Man festival in the US with temporary, visionary structures that underline his connection with nature and impermanence.Besides his work in public spaces, he exhibits in museums such as the Louisiana Museum in Denmark and Bozar in Brussels. There, he also shows paintings and drawings that exude the same explosive power and colour as his sculptures.With his work, Quinze challenges the boundaries between art, architecture and nature. His creations are a plea for more poetry and humanity in the city, an invitation to break through the everyday and make room for wonder.
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