Calligraffiti

Born in Amsterdam in 1967, Niels Meulman is an internationally known artist, designer, and art director. Meulman began tagging in 1979 and became a graffiti legend by the time he was 18. Known as ‘Shoe’ within the graffiti community, his work evolved into a business for lettering and he furthered his technique by apprenticing under the Dutch graphic design master, Anthon Beeke.

In the nineties Meulman ran his own design company, Caulfield & Tensing, before joining the international advertising network BBDO. In recent years, he has been a Creative Director for MTV Networks, while also freelancing in typographic design. Meulman revolutionized the art of writing with Calligraffiti, an art form that fuses calligraphy and graffiti. He launched this movement in 2007 with a successful solo exhibition in Amsterdam, with contributions from graffiti pioneer and graphic artist Eric Haze. Meulman has also teamed up with international record label Rush Hour, to mount a Calligraffiti exhibition entitled Different Strokes. He is currently working on exhibitions all over the planet.

Widely acclaimed, Meulman’s designs and artwork are in the permanent collections of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Amongst his essential works are a signature shoe design for the British sports brand, Umbro; the re-styling of the Dutch television channel TMF; calligraphy for Bols Genever; the Christel Palace logo that was awarded by the Art Directors Club New York; a line of luxury silk scarves for his label Unruly and of course the glossy Calligraffiti pieces.

www.calligraffiti.nl
www.nielsshoemeulman.com
www.unruly.nl

ABOUT THE ARTIST, SHORTER VERSION:

Niels Meulman is an internationally known artist, graphic designer, and art director. Meulman began tagging Shoe in 1979 and became a graffiti legend by the time he was 18.

In the eighties he met New York artists like Dondi, Rammellzee, Haze, Quik and Keith Haring. He then formed the Crime Time Kings with Bando from Paris and Mode2 from London. Together they gave graffiti in Europe its own distinctive style.

In the Nineties he furthered his technique by apprenticing under the Dutch graphic design master Anthon Beeke. Shoe ran his own design company, Caulfield & Tensing and was partner in ad agency Unruly, which he later turned into brand for silk scarves.

Shoe revolutionized the art of writing with Calligraffiti, an art form that fuses calligraphy and graffiti. He launched this movement in 2007 with a successful solo exhibition in Amsterdam. Since then, his Calligraffiti pieces (signed NSM) can be seen in various international exhibitions.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• Grafische School, Amsterdam, 1984 – 1985.
• 3D Design, 1985 – 1987, partner in graphic studio.
• Studio Anthon Beeke, Amsterdam, 1989 – 1992 , assistant graphic designer.
• Studio Lidewij Edelkoort, Paris, 1990, graphic design and production.
• Act Up Fight Back, 1990, mural in Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.
• Muilmen Don’t Cry, 1992, exhibition with Dingeman Kuilman at Megazin, Amsterdam.
• Caulfield & Tensing I, 1992 – 1993, partner in graphic design studio.
• Post Graffiti, 1993, group exhibition at Gallery Total Art, Amsterdam.
• Top Billin’, 1994, owner clothing label.
• Sunday Violence, 1994, exhibition of silkscreens at Smart Gallery, Amsterdam.
• Blvd. magazine, 1995, photo & illustration editor.
• Caulfield & Tensing II, 1995 – 1999, partner in graphic design studio.
• Wave magazine, 1996 – 1997, art director.
• Art Directors Club Netherlands, 1997, jury member (graphic design).
• Lecture series, 1998, art schools in Den Haag, Utrecht, Pasadena.
• Streetwise, 1998, Kunsthal, Rotterdam.
• Dutch Design Dead, 1998, co-author of publication.
• Do Normal, 1998, Dutch Design in San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
• Holland International, 1998, LACE Gallery, Hollywood.
• World Expo, 1998, Lisbon.
• Art Directors Club Netherlands, 1999, jury member (typography).
• Design Academy, Eindhoven, 1999, graphic design teacher.
• Mooi Maar Goed, 1999, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.
• FHV/BBDO, Amsterdam, 1999 – 2001, senior art director.
• G-shock, 1999, project with Eric Haze, Tokyo.
• Art Directors Club Europe, 1999, jury member (graphic design/new media).
• Body Logo, 2002, exhibition with Daniëlle Kwaaitaal at Montevideo, Amsterdam.
• Unruly, 2002 – 2004, partner in agency for creative direction and brand strategy.
• Umbro International, 2003, fashion design and marketing strategy.
• Link Magazine, 2003, re-styling and creative direction.
• UCLA Design|Media Arts, 2004, lecture and workshop.
• Rietveld Academie (Design Lab, Graphic Design), 2004, teacher.
• Academie voor Bouwkunst, Amsterdam, 2006, teacher.
• Behind the Scene #01, 2006, group exhibition at Salone del Mobile, Milan.
• Roam is my home, 2006, group exhibition Centraal Museum Utrecht.
• shoe&parra&delta&machine, 2006, group exhibition at Pakhuis De Zwijger, Amsterdam.
• Unruly Accessories, 2007, partner in scarf brand.
• Art Directors Club, New York, 2007, jury member (graphic design).
• Loud Graphix, 2007, group exhibition at 103, Berlin.
• Calligraffiti, 2007, solo exhibition at Post BG venue, Amsterdam.
• MTV Networks Benelux, 2007 – 2008, Head of Creative & Design.
• Nosmo King, 2007, solo exhibition at De Duivel, Amsterdam.
• Shoe for Heineken, 2008, streetwear collection for Heineken The City.
• Different Strokes, 2008, solo exhibition at Rush Hour, Amsterdam.
• Some Type of Wonderful, 2009, group exhibition hosted by Lifelounge, Melbourne.
• Where On Earth Have You Been?, 2009, group exhibition at Bright, Frankfurt.
• Le Miroir Vivant, 2009, solo exhibition at Tenue de Nîmes, Amsterdam.
• Le Tag, 2009, group exhibition at Le Grand Palais, Paris.
• Salon de l’Amitié, 2009, group exhibition at Arti, Amsterdam.
• Urban in Ibiza, 2009, group exhibition at Atzaro, Ibiza.
• Imagining Mozambique, 2009, group exhibition at Maxalot gallery, Amsterdam.
• Amsterdam’s Right Brainers Convention, 2009, exhibition at Chelsea Market, New York.
• Salamatina Group Show, 2009, Salamatina Gallery, Manhasset NY.
• Imagining Mozambique, 2009, group exhibition at Mass Market gallery space, New York.
• TEDxBrussels, 2009, speaker at European Parliament, Brussels.
• Flying Eyeball, 2009, group exhibition, Mayfair, London
• Millon & Cornette de Saint Cyr, auction, 2009, Paris.
• Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 2009, exhibition and auction.
• Calligraffiti, one man show, 2010, Common Ground Gallery, Berlin.
• Calligraffiti, one man show, 2010, Arty Farty gallery, Cologne.
• Conrete Playground, group show, 2010, Essen.
• TYPOBerlin international Design Conference 2010, exhibition, lecture and performance, Berlin
• STROKE.02 Urban Art Fair, solo exhibition, Munich.
• Dew Tour 2010, exhibition and performance at Sony Innov8 Park, Boston MA.
• Letters of Indepenence, 2010, solo exhibition at Salamatina gallery, Manhasset NY.

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