Masters to Watch: Lothar Vigelandzoon

MASTERS talks to prominent figures from the business world, including Lothar Vigelandzoon. As a visual artist, he has been making art for about sixteen years and attributes his success to four things: a portion of luck, the talent for making art, his marketing skills and the desire to continue making people happy with what he does.

MASTERS will talk to prominent figures from the business world, including Lothar Vigelandzoon. As a visual artist, Lothar has been making art for about sixteen years and, according to himself, he owes his success to four things: a portion of luck, the talent for making art, his marketing sense and the fact that he wants to make people happy with what he does.

Harmony

“I was born in Paramaribo. When I think back to my youth, I feel the warmth and see a lot of diversity of origin, while at the same time harmony prevails. I left Suriname when I was twenty. I wanted to focus further on the computer world, something that was just gaining momentum at the time. A letter to IBM was quickly written, and with only some 'pocket money' in my pocket I started my adventure in Groningen.
I ended up working for IBM for thirty-seven years. My drive got me where I wanted to be. I rose from technical employee to manager, after which I was sent to France for the second time in 2000 to set up IBM Mobile Security Solutions. Three years later I decided enough was enough and I retired at the age of 58.”

Challenge

“Yes, retirement… I thought I would now concentrate entirely on golf as a 'single handicapper', but after a year I knew that wasn't quite it. I missed working in a team, creative and solution-oriented thinking. An artist friend who made bronze statues took me to the bronze foundry and immediately made me enthusiastic. It was a very interesting process with many challenges. I worked there for six months, without pay, to learn the process. Until then I was an 'art barbarian'. I was given some wax to take home and created a few images out of thin air. In Vence on the southern French coast, where I partly live, I was approached by a gallery. He had seen these sculptures of mine at the foundry and wanted to exhibit them for me. They were sold quite quickly. This was followed by a gallery in Paris. At a chic hotel in Monaco, sculptures of mine were also exhibited and many sold. At one point I received a call from Gallery Bartoux, a gallery that only hosted well-known artists. They had seen my fruit sculptures in Monaco and asked if I would send seven pieces to the Courchevel branch. Within a few months they were all sold. Bartoux saw a great future with me and wanted to invest in large sculptures. Then a very busy and interesting time began. A second career was born.
I can express my passion in art. Perfection is of paramount importance to me. By experimenting a lot, I managed to patina true-to-life colors. Like my cherry red cherry. The cherry has become my signature. The colors and appearance are special and immediately hold your attention. The demand is so great that waiting lists are emerging. But the icing is only one part of my creations. The images radiate warmth and sometimes a touch of sensuality, which is caused by the round shapes that stimulate the imagination. I reached this level without any art training and often without burning my fingers. Abroad, my bronze cherries are sold as 'The Jewels of Lothar', which is very honorable.”

Winner

“I have been making art for about sixteen years now and have an international company where five people work for me. I owe my success to four things: a portion of luck, the talent to make art, my marketing sense and the fact that I want to make people happy with what I do. How many sculptures do I make per year? That depends on the size of the projects. It took me eight months to create a four-meter-high sculpture for the Jumbo head office in Veghel.
I am now working on a sculpture for Jumbo-Visma in Den Bosch that will depict 'the winner'. I am aware that I am in a privileged position and I always find it a challenge when I am asked for a project. The project in my head then has to be carried out and that is quite a process, sometimes involving trial and error. But when the unveiling has taken place, the 'stone' falls from my shoulder and I think: how wonderful that I can contribute and leave something like this behind, sculptures with a meaning. So is the image Confident which is located in the Groene Hart Hospital in Gouda, a good example. Many patients gain hope from this and I regularly receive messages of thanks for this in my mailbox. Thanks to a lot of perseverance, passion and drive, many people worldwide can now enjoy my creations. That is the icing on the cake of my second career.”

Curious about all the visual artist's work? View his website here. 

MASTERS EXPO 

Admire Lothar's art, represented by Art Gallery 11M at MASTERS EXPO. From December 8 to 12 in RAI Amsterdam: MASTERS EXPO – The Colorful Edition. Ticket sales for MASTERS EXPO 2022 have started. Order your tickets here.