Korstiaan (Kees) Verkade (Haarlem, October 12, 1941 – Monaco, December 29, 2020) was a Dutch visual artist, primarily known as a sculptor, but also active as a draftsman. His work is characterized by a classical formal language, craftsmanship, and a strong human touch.
Verkade was born in Haarlem, the son of Willem Verkade and Adriana Barendregt. After drawing and painting lessons with Gerrit van 't Net, he studied at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague from 1958 to 1963. Initially, he aspired to become a commercial illustrator, but during his studies, his interest shifted definitively to sculpture.
His artistic breakthrough came after his first exhibition at the Vishal in Haarlem, where two works were acquired by the Frans Hals Museum. From that moment on, he established his studio in Zandvoort and began to focus entirely on his artistry. In 1966, he received his first major public commission from the municipality of Haarlem for the sculpture Winkelen (also known as Stadten), which definitively established his reputation.
From the 1970s onward, Verkade's reputation also grew internationally. At the end of that decade, he settled in France and later in Monaco, where he lived and worked and maintained close contacts with the royal court. During this period, he completed numerous commissions for public spaces and developed a recognizable sculptural style that emphasizes elegance, movement, and figuration.
Kees Verkade died on December 29, 2020, in Monaco. Shortly before his death, he completed a sculpture commemorating the victims of the coronavirus pandemic and as a tribute to healthcare workers—a work that encapsulates his social commitment and humanist vision.
