Niek Hoogland

Niek Hoogland is a Dutch ceramic artist whose work is deeply rooted in the earthenware traditions of his native region. Born and raised in a town shaped by the clay dug from its own soil, Hoogland’s practice draws directly on the red river clays of the Maas and Rhine that have long supported local ceramic production. These clays were historically used for bricks, pipes and roof tiles, and for the celebrated Tegelen earthenware — red clay covered with white slip and decorated with coloured slips and sgraffito before firing.

Hoogland continues this regional legacy in his own work, using the traditional technique of slip painting with brushes and slip trailers, and sgraffito to reveal the underlying clay body. His process typically involves a first bisque firing to around 900 °C, after which work may be glazed and fired a second time to approximately 1100 °C, producing rich surface colour and gloss. The motifs in his ceramics often reflect the surrounding landscape, with the river Maas a recurring source of inspiration, and his pieces carry a strong sense of place and tradition.

Supported by the historical earthenware practices of the Lower Rhine region, Hoogland makes contemporary ceramics across a range of forms individual one‑off works, small series of utilitarian ware, and commemorative dishes commissioned for special occasions, all informed by a deep connection to clay, place and technique.