NAP+ 2026 highlights in Amsterdam
NAP+ in Amsterdam: much-loved favourites, new gallery discoveries, gym workouts, oysters, and one phone call.
Lana, founder of ART UNLOCKED, shares her personal highlights from NAP+, a boutique art fair in Amsterdam, now in its third edition. And what a day of art discoveries it turned out to be!
What is NAP+ in Amsterdam?
NAP+ is a contemporary art fair in Amsterdam that brings together galleries, artists, collectors, and art lovers in an intimate setting. Unlike the larger international art fairs, NAP+ offers an opportunity to discover contemporary art at a more personal pace, meet the people behind the artworks, and explore the programmes of galleries from Amsterdam and beyond.
For anyone curious about contemporary art, it’s an opportunity to experience a wide range of artistic practices, from painting and sculpture to installation and performance, all in one place.
And for ART UNLOCKED, it was a day of reconnecting with familiar galleries, discovering new artistic voices, and finding inspiration for our future art walks.
1. Reconnecting with our ART UNLOCKED Amsterdam partner galleries
Seeing our ART UNLOCKED partner galleries shine in a completely different setting is always a pleasure! It was wonderful to reconnect with Made van Krimpen, Galerie Fontana, Martin van Zomeren, and Stigter van Doesburg, and discover another (art fairy) side of the galleries we love introducing to our guests.
These four partner galleries, alongside other established contemporary art galleries, are featured across our two curated ART UNLOCKED Amsterdam routes, where we invite guests to explore contemporary art through conversation, curiosity, and personal discovery.
At NAP+, we had the opportunity to see their programmes in a different context, alongside artists and galleries from across the Netherlands. One of the joys of contemporary art is that there’s always something new to discover, even in the galleries you already know and love.
2. Meeting the artists: experiencing their artistic journeys first-hand
One of the highlights of visiting an art fair is the opportunity to meet artists in person and hear the stories behind their work. At NAP+ 2026, we encountered some fascinating artistic practices and the people bringing them to life.
From Eric Giraudet de Boudemange and his wonderfully playful self-portrait masks to Adriaan Rees and his transformative porcelain torsos (and thank you for introducing us to Eduard Seer!), to Robin Phoenix Whitehouse and Todor Rabadziyski with their gorgeous lobsters (and oysters — thank you!).
Seeing art is one thing. Meeting the people behind it, hearing their stories, and discovering how their ideas come to life? That’s where the magic happens. These personal encounters remind us why conversation is such an important part of experiencing contemporary art.
An artwork may catch your attention because of its colours, materials, or unexpected form. But hearing an artist talk about their creative process can open up an entirely new way of looking at it. And sometimes, the most memorable discoveries begin with a simple question.
3. Discovering new contemporary art galleries from The Hague
And so it goes — from falling in love with artistic journeys to discovering new galleries: LIVINGSTONE GALLERY and Dürst Britt & Mayhew. Both are based in The Hague. Coincidence? We don’t think so.
The Hague has a vibrant contemporary art scene, with galleries and artists offering plenty of opportunities for discovery beyond Amsterdam familiar art destinations. And let’s just say ART UNLOCKED might have some plans for The Hague.
4. When contemporary art becomes a workout: Galerie VIVID
And then, at Rotterdam-based Galerie VIVID, our favourite gym metaphor came to life — quite literally! Who knew exercising your curiosity could be such a workout? The more you practise looking, questioning, and exploring unfamiliar ideas, the more comfortable you become with the unexpected.
The gym-inspired performance at Galerie VIVID was a reminder that contemporary art can be playful, surprising, and sometimes wonderfully absurd. And that exercising your curiosity can be just as rewarding as exercising your muscles.
Rotterdam, here we come! Stay tuned!
5. The Line: an unexpected phone call that stayed with us (you made it very special!)
And the artwork that stayed with us the most? A telephone service! Pick up the phone. Have a conversation. See where it takes you. The Line by The Department of Destruction, created by Shivani Gowda, offers a rather unusual service: a direct line to help you navigate the art world.
A twin project to ART UNLOCKED? Or perhaps a sign that we’re not the only ones who believe the art world could use a little help becoming more accessible? Either way, we love it! An artwork that invites you to ask questions, challenges the way we experience art, and turns a simple conversation into an artistic encounter. Did we call? Of course we did!
What makes this work particularly interesting is how it brings attention to the questions, conversations, and uncertainties that are so often part of encountering contemporary art. Do you need to understand an artwork to appreciate it? Who decides what art means? And what happens when you allow yourself to be curious rather than searching for the right answer?
At ART UNLOCKED, we believe that contemporary art doesn’t have to come with all the answers. Sometimes, the most interesting part is simply starting a conversation.
Discover contemporary art in Amsterdam with ART UNLOCKED
NAP+ is a wonderful opportunity to explore the contemporary art scene in Amsterdam and discover galleries, artists, and artistic practices you might not otherwise encounter.
But the discoveries don’t have to end when the art fair closes. We art walk every week!
At ART UNLOCKED, we make contemporary art accessible through curated gallery walks in Amsterdam, bringing small groups of curious people together to explore contemporary art galleries, meet new perspectives, and discover their own relationship with art.
Our Amsterdam Collection features two curated routes, each offering a complete art walking experience through a selection of contemporary art galleries.
No prior art knowledge is required. Just bring your curiosity!
Thank you, NAP+, for a day full of art, curiosity, and new connections.
Same time next year? Already in our calendar!
