I'm getting my own studio in Carré, Tilburg
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⏱️ 6 minute read
There are moments when you just have to stop. Not because something is wrong, but because you feel something fundamental is about to change. This is one of those moments.
I'm getting my own studio. In Carré, Tilburg. Sometime in July, or by early August at the latest, I'll be turning the key for the first time into a space that is solely mine. And dedicated to art.
That might sound simple. But for me, it's anything but.
Years of working from home
I've been painting for years. And all those years I've done it the way many artists do at the beginning: at home. In the living room, in a corner, on a table that was actually meant for something else. Paint on the floor. Canvases drying where people are supposed to sit. A life and a studio intertwined in a way that you start to feel after a while.
I always call it the "mess". Not with shame, because it's also just the reality of a working artist building their practice. But it's also limiting. You can't truly let go when your workspace is also your living space. You can't leave a canvas out and look at it with fresh eyes the next morning, because it's in the way. You can't experiment on a large scale, because the space doesn't allow it.
That is about to change.
“A studio is not a luxury. It is the space that allows your work to become what it wants to be.”
Carré: a place with soul
Not just any space. Carré is one of the most special places in Tilburg, and I'm not saying that as a marketing gimmick. The former St. Elisabeth Hospital on Jan van Beverwijckstraat has existed as a creative breeding ground for artists and makers since 1981. One of the first of its kind in the Netherlands.
Tilburg residents know the building. The name Carré refers to the characteristic square layout of the building, half of which has been preserved. High ceilings, wide corridors, an architecture that breathes. Five minutes' walk from the center, with over 100 studios.
What also reassures me: the building has been purchased. By Stichting Ateliers Tilburg, the non-profit organization that has been managing affordable workspaces for artists and creative entrepreneurs in the city since 2004. No temporary situation, no transitional solution. Carré is a permanent place, and you notice that in everything.
De Nachtzuster
Within Carré, there is also De Nachtzuster: Tilburg's first rule-free space. A place without a fixed destination, without a predetermined program. A space suitable for exhibitions, presentations, and meetings between creators.
I already know De Nachtzuster. A number of works from my Theros. series are already hanging there. Warm, Mediterranean color palettes in a space that has just the right atmosphere to do them justice. That's no coincidence. That's what happens when work and environment find each other.
The fact that I am now also getting my own studio in the same building feels like a logical next step.
Tilburg is a City of Makers
That's not a slogan. That's something you feel when you work and live here. Stichting Ateliers Tilburg currently manages 13 buildings spread throughout the city, with the aim of always having about 250 studios available for professional makers. That's no coincidence. Tilburg invests in the infrastructure of art, and Carré is the most visible proof of that.
What appeals to me about the way SAT works is that it goes beyond just renting out square meters. They actively build a community. They support artists' initiatives, stimulate cooperation between tenants, and help with publicity and promotion. If you want to grow as an artist in Tilburg, this is the environment to do it in.
And that's exactly why I want to be here.
Tilburg as an art city
With 13 buildings and over 250 studios, Stichting Ateliers Tilburg is one of the driving forces behind Tilburg's art scene. Carré is their largest building and one of the first cultural incubators in the Netherlands.
What having your own studio changes
I've thought a lot about it. What it concretely means. Not just practically, but mentally too.
My own studio means my work gets a place. Not a corner, not a temporary setup, but a real place. Canvases can hang for weeks without getting in the way. Materials lie where I leave them. The light falls exactly as I want it. The atmosphere of the work lingers in the room, even when I'm not there.
But it goes further than that. A studio gives you permission. Permission to think bigger. To create series that need more time. To experiment without it immediately affecting the rest of your life. To be an artist, not just in your head, but also in the space you occupy.
I expect this to be visible in the work. Larger formats. More room for color and composition. Series that are given more time to mature. The abstract prints and original paintings you find in the shop now are the result of years of working in varying circumstances. I'm curious what will emerge when those circumstances are finally stable.
View the work that is already there
The collection that originated before the studio. Prints and originals, made in Tilburg.
Collections that continue to grow from the studio
The work I create is divided into series. Each with its own character, its own color palette, its own story. In the studio, these series will get the space they deserve.
A selection of what is already there:
- Theros. — warm, Mediterranean color palettes. Ochre, terracotta, sand tones. Already on display in De Nachtzuster in Carré.
- Ombre. — fluid color transitions, calm and meditative.
- Relief. — structure and texture as central elements.
- New York City Districts. — abstract interpretations of New York City neighborhoods.
- Limen. — work on the boundary of color and form.
- Polychros. — rich, layered color compositions.
- Affordable Art. — original acrylic paintings, max. €50.
New to the collection? View the latest works or explore the complete Art Prints collection.
First bring it to life, then open the doors
I've already received questions about an open studio or workshops. I understand, and it will definitely happen. But first, I want to get to know the space. I want to work there, make mistakes, discover how the light falls at different times of the day. I want the studio to become a workspace before I make it a stage.
What I can say for now: Kunstscene Tilburg is planned for November 7 and 8, 2026. I will definitely open the studio then. That will be the first official moment when you can visit, see the space, and view the works up close. Kunstscene Tilburg is one of the most beautiful moments in Tilburg's art year, and I am happy to participate for the first time this year from my own studio.
Mark your calendars.
📅 Save the date
Kunstscene Tilburg — November 7 & 8, 2026
KOJO Art Studio in Carré, Tilburg
More details to follow.
Follow the work via Print Club.
If you want to watch as the studio comes to life and new series emerge, Print Club. is the way to do it. Each month you'll receive an original work of KOJO Art, even before it appears in the shop. No prints of prints, but work that comes directly from the studio to you.
It's the most direct connection between what happens in the studio and what hangs on your wall at home.
KOJO Art in Tilburg and North Brabant
I am Jordy Koumans. I paint and sell under the name KOJO Art. Abstract paintings, color field paintings, originals and prints. Made in Tilburg, shipped worldwide.
Tilburg is my city. North Brabant is my home. And with this studio in Carré, I am taking a step I have long wanted to take: a permanent, visible place in the Tilburg art landscape. Not just online, but physically too. A place where the work is made, and where people can come and see that work.
Tilburg is a City of Makers. I am proud to be a part of that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the KOJO Art studio in Tilburg?
In Carré, the former St. Elisabeth Hospital on Jan van Beverwijckstraat in Tilburg. A five-minute walk from the city center, part of Stichting Ateliers Tilburg.
What is De Nachtzuster in Carré?
De Nachtzuster is Tilburg's first rule-free space, located in Carré. A place without a fixed destination, used for exhibitions, presentations, and meetings. Several works from KOJO Art's Theros. series are already on display there.
Can I visit the studio?
Not directly yet. I'm furnishing the space and bringing it to life first. The first official open day will be during Kunstscene Tilburg on November 7 and 8, 2026.
Will there be workshops or open studio days?
Certainly, but not right away. As soon as the space is ready, I will announce it via the newsletter and Instagram. Subscribe to the newsletter to not miss anything.
What is Stichting Ateliers Tilburg?
Stichting Ateliers Tilburg (SAT) is a non-profit organization that provides affordable workspace to professional artists and creative entrepreneurs in Tilburg. They manage 13 buildings in the city, including Carré. More info at atelierstilburg.nl.
Where can I buy KOJO Art's work?
Through the online shop at kojoart.com. You'll find art prints, original paintings, and the Affordable Art collection. Shipped worldwide.
What is Print Club.?
Print Club. is a monthly subscription where you receive an original work of KOJO Art, even before it appears in the shop. Ideal if you want to follow the work and be among the first to have new series at home.
Read more
Want to read more about KOJO Art's work and background? Check out the other articles in the Journal, or dive into the blogs about Collections, Art Techniques, and Interior.
About KOJO Art
KOJO Art is the brand name under which I, Jordy Koumans, paint and sell. Based in Tilburg, shipping worldwide. Abstract paintings, high-quality prints, and a monthly Print Club. for those who want to follow the work closely.
