The world that Benedikt Fischer and Rudy de Gruyl share is one of joyful ebullience. In collaboration since 2020, the two artists have fostered the kind of freedom of expression and generosity of spirit that most artists strive for over a lifetime, and the fabulously erotic and joyful work they make together sing with those qualities.

Benedikt Fischer is a Austrian artist based in Amsterdam. Following technical studies in Austria, he studied at the Rietveld Academy under Manon van Kouswijk and Suska Mackert from 2008-2011, as well as spending a term as a visiting student at Konstfack in Stockholm. He subsequently worked as a professor’s assistant at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle, Germany and now teaches at the Royal Academy of Art in Antwerp. His work has been exhibited worldwide and is held in the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, CODA Museum, Apeldoorn and the MAK Museum for Applied Art, Vienna, among others. Benedikt won the Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery in 2018 and the Eligius Jewellery Award in 2013.

Rudy de Gruyl is a philosopher, collector, and painter working at the Outsider Art Galerie in Amsterdam. His work shows a variety of interesting and colourful topics including aliens, animals, human nudes, TV programs, fruits, and letters.
 
"I think craft has a unique and beautiful quality—it brings people together. It offers a special opportunity to connect, create, and exchange. Through making, we share time, space, and knowledge, fostering a sense of community and collaboration that enriches both the process and the outcome.

It’s been four years of collaboration with Rudy de Gruyl. Rudy, who is neurodivergent and has high-support needs, brings a direct, mostly uninhibited approach to our work. Together, we share a love for adornment, which shines through in the pieces we create. This partnership gives me the chance to unlearn the constraints of formal art training and embrace Rudy’s direct and instinctual creativity. Rudy often picks up a brush and simply begins to paint, letting the work unfold naturally without knowing where it will go.

Our process is as much about personal expression as it is about sharing these creations with the world. The jewelry we make together often reflects themes of love, eroticism, cultural symbolism, and the joy of ornamentation. Our motor is love—love for vibrant colors, the male physique, the elegance of hair, the softness of wool and the beauty found in texture and form. Like the folk art we both so admire, we want our work to be accessible, too. We invite people to explore the power of self-adornment, rooted in traditions that celebrate everyday artistry accessible to all.

On some level, our collaboration also shows how straightforward integration can be. In these hyper-capitalistic times, individuals who can’t engage in the economic pursuit of wealth are often marginalised and cast aside. Our work demonstrates the potential for inclusivity, challenging the idea that economic participation defines one’s value and highlighting the richness that comes from diverse contributions."

Benedikt Fischer, October 2024