Exhibitions & Retrospectives
A Chronology of Shadows & Light
Johfra Bosschart's career spanned over six decades, moving from small local shows in The Hague to massive blockbuster exhibitions in the 1970s that attracted tens of thousands of visitors. Below is a chronological record of his major solo and group exhibitions.
Exhibitions During His Life (1943–1998)
The Early Years & Post-War
First Exhibition (The Hague)
Context: Held jointly with fellow artist Hans Kroesen. Approximately 250 drawings and watercolors were shown. This was his debut during the German occupation.
Bennewitz Art Gallery (The Hague)
Context: Following the destruction of his early work in the 1945 bombing, Johfra held several solo exhibitions here to re-establish his career under his new pseudonym.
International Recognition (1950s–1960s)
USA Tour (Los Angeles & Cleveland)
Context: Solo exhibitions that marked his first major exposure to the American art market.
Brussels (Belgium)
Context: Solo exhibition expanding his reach into Europe.
France (Paris & Cannes)
Context: After moving to France, Johfra held solo shows in these major cultural hubs.
London (United Kingdom)
Context: Solo exhibition.
Galerie Eijlders (Zandvoort, Netherlands)
The "Meta-Realist" Phenomenon (1974)
Van Reekum Gallery (Apeldoorn, Netherlands)
- Significance: The launch of "The 7 Metarealists" group.
- Attendance: A massive success with 9,000 visitors.
- Note: The Zodiac posters were presented here for the first time.
Museum Het Prinsenhof (Delft, Netherlands)
Attendance: Even larger success with 12,000 visitors.
Touring Locations
- Artist Center (Bergen)
- Het Hofje van Staats (Haarlem)
- Pictura (Groningen)
- Galerij de Ark (Boxtel)
- Romi Goldmuntz Center (Antwerp, Belgium)
Total Tour Attendance: Approximately 48,000 visitors.
The Galerie Kamp Era (1975–1983)
Galerie Kamp (Amsterdam)
Context: Full exhibition of the Zodiac Series. Despite negative reviews from critics, public attendance was overwhelming.
Baseler Kunstmesse (Basel, Switzerland)
Context: Regular participation in this prestigious art fair alongside surrealist contemporaries like Ernst Fuchs and H.R. Giger.
Galerie Kamp (Amsterdam)
Context: Debut of the Maldoror Series and the Johfra Sketchbook.
The Mature Period (1984–1998)
Galerie La Licorne (Fleurac, France)
Context: Following the bankruptcy of Galerie Kamp, Johfra and Ellen Lórien opened their own gallery at their home, Moulin de Peuch.
Jester Art Gallery (Amsterdam)
Jester Art Gallery (Amsterdam)
Context: Exhibition of the complete Fountains of Rome series.
Galerie Utrecht (Utrecht, Netherlands)
Context: Two back-to-back exhibitions organized just a year before his death. One showcased the sold-out Fountains of Rome series to generate buzz, followed by a second show of works for sale.
Posthumous Exhibitions (1998–Present)
West-Fries Museum (Hoorn, Netherlands)
Title: A Grand Retrospective
Content: The most significant posthumous collection, featuring 96 works, including many masterpieces like the Fountain series and triptychs.
Slot Zeist (Zeist, Netherlands)
Title: "Op de grenzen van het avontuur" (On the Limits of Adventure)
Context: Named after Pierre Borgue’s biography, featuring works depicted in the book.
Virtual Johfra Museum
Run by the Stichting de Verbeelding, this online archive serves as the permanent digital home for his oeuvre.