Leslie Nagel © 2026
site by johnny nextdoor
made possible by Stroom Den Haag
Info
Leslie Nagel (1988) creates sculptures that rattle, flutter, and bounce. From her studio at Maakhaven in The Hague, she builds kinetic artworks that explore the dynamic interplay between action and reaction, reflection and response.
Fascinated by the sensory impact of materials, she studies how sound, movement, and texture can evoke emotion. The squeak of polystyrene might send shivers down your spine, while the crackle of foil can feel oddly comforting. These sensations come alive when the materials are set in motion.
Her sculptures flutter, sway, rock, vibrate, rustle, clap, and buzz. Working intuitively and in close dialogue with her materials, Nagel creates visual and tactile experiences that engage the senses and invite viewers into playful, imaginative worlds.
NL
Leslie Nagel (1988) maakt sculpturen die rammelen, trillen en dansen. Vanuit haar atelier in Maakhaven, Den Haag, creëert ze kinetische installaties die het spel onderzoeken tussen actie en reactie, reflectie en respons.
Gefascineerd door de zintuiglijke werking van materialen onderzoekt ze hoe geluid, beweging en textuur emoties kunnen oproepen. Het piepen van piepschuim kan kippenvel veroorzaken, terwijl het knisperen van folie juist een aangenaam gevoel kan geven. Deze sensaties komen pas echt tot leven wanneer het materiaal in beweging wordt gebracht.
Haar sculpturen fladderen, wiegen, trillen, ritselen, klapperen en zoemen. Door intuïtief en in direct contact met het materiaal te werken, ontstaan tastbare en visuele ervaringen die de zintuigen prikkelen en uitnodigen tot spel en verbeelding.
EXHIBITIONS
2025
• BIG ART Slotervaart, Amsterdam
• Festival Tweetakt, Utrecht
• SWOOSH – kinetisch in Kunsthal 4, Den Helder
2024
• Live Love Minimal, SKAR en Herman Lamers, Rotterdam
• BIG ART Slotervaart, represented by gallery NL=US Art, Amsterdam
2023
• Keep On Going – A kinetic group exhibition, gallery NL=US Art, Rotterdam
• #101 Mauritsweg, gallery NL=US Art, Rotterdam
• Bouncing Boundaries, TOR Art Space, Frankfurt am Main
• Force Movement Transparency, Dreieich
2022
• Vooruitzien, exhibition space KunZt, Zwijndrecht
2021
• Room To Live, duo exhibition with Davit Powell, represented by gallery NL=US Art, Rotterdam
• Your Playground, Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam
• OCTA II – Or Call This Art, Utrecht
• Must See, Zuiderzee Museum, Enkhuizen
2020
• OCTA – Or Call This Art, The Hague
• If Paradise Is Half As Nice #10, Rotterdam
• Art Rotterdam, represented by gallery NL=US Art, Rotterdam
2019
• Art The Hague, represented by gallery NL=US Art, The Hague
• BIG ART Hembrug, represented by gallery NL=US Art, Zaandam
• No Patent Pending #36, iii, The Hague
• What Remains Has To Be Seen / De Tand Des Tijds, gallery NL=US Art, Rotterdam
2018
• Vibrant Colors, duo exhibition with Willem Besselink, gallery NL=US Art, The Hague
• West Austin Studio Tour, Nr. 157, Austin (USA)
• The Width Of A Circle, in collaboration with Aura Rendón Benger, W139 Amsterdam
2017
• PIP Expo, Aura Rendón Benger & Leslie Nagel, PIP The Hague
• New Abstractions, New Experiments, gallery NL=US Art, Rotterdam
• A Squeak, Bang, Fwoosh And Crack, duo exhibition with Aime Yoshikawa, Bierum
• Budvar Young Art Event #1, NEST Ruimte voor Kunst, The Hague
2016
• Verlicht Mij, Museum IJsselstein, IJsselstein
• Dutch Design Week, with Enrichers at Collaboration-O, Sectie-C, Eindhoven
• Dirty Daisies, The Hague
• Codex Festival, Noto (Sicilië)
• De Loop Der Dingen, Kunsthal KAdE, Amersfoort
• Cosmic Amore Qwadrante, W139 Amsterdam
2015
• Hallucinaties, Firma Van Drie, Lichtkunstgouda, Gouda
• Lichtbaden, CBK, Amsterdam
• The Cliffhanger Show, In Your Living Room #31, The Hague
• Fauna X Rewire, The Hague
• Aftrap 3, Ministerie van Koninkrijksrelaties en Veiligheid en Justitie, The Hague
• Generation, Moam, Amsterdam
• Ɔmbəˈkɛnt, De Molen, Wassenaar
EDUCATION
2010 – 2014 Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, Fine Art, 3D
2006 – 2010 Grafisch Lyceum, Rotterdam, Art & Design
GRANTS
2023 – Stroom The Hague spot subsidy individual exhibition
2021 – Stroom The Hague spot subsidy group exhibition
2020 – Stroom The Hague spot subsidy group exhibition
2018 – Stroom The Hague pro art projects
2017 – Stroom The Hague pro art projects
2016 – Stroom The Hague spot subsidy group exhibition
2015 – Stroom The Hague pro invest subsidy
ART RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
At Atelier Anders Bekeken, I work as a regular workshop leader and support artist, giving creative workshops for people with lived experience of mental health challenges. The studio provides a safe and inspiring space where participants work on their own projects, explore new techniques, and develop their personal growth.