Lucky Strike

Lucky Strike (2024) is a recent work by Berend Strik, part of his ongoing exploration of found objects, chance encounters, and the transformation of everyday materials into art through his signature stitched photography technique.

The title "Lucky Strike" — referencing both the tobacco brand and the phrase for hitting a lucky moment — connects to Strik's broader interest in the readymade tradition, from Duchamp to Rauschenberg. The found object, when transformed through textile intervention, becomes something that is neither original nor merely found.

As with all his work, Strik transforms the photograph through hours of meticulous hand-stitching, adding fabric layers and textile details that alter our perception of the original image. This process of transformation — making something new from something existing — is central to his practice.

Strik (born 1960, Nijmegen) studied at the Rijksakademie (1986–1988) and ISCP New York (1998–2000). His work is held in collections including Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, and TextielMuseum. Represented by Galerie Fons Welters (Amsterdam), Jack Tilton Gallery (New York), and Hopstreet Gallery (Brussels).

Sources: Galerie Fons Welters