In 2024, the Special Olympics National Games took place in Breda and Tilburg, the largest national event for people with intellectual disabilities. For Blind Walls Gallery, this was a unique opportunity to collaborate with artists with disabilities, also known as outsider art. At Atelier Galerie Herenplaats in Rotterdam, various artists with intellectual disabilities work daily. They exhibit their work worldwide. 

Brenda van Vliet creates art at Herenplaats, and her work is recognisable by its dreamy colour gradients. She designed the mural for Breda, which was executed by experienced mural artist Marijn Gronert.

In 2016, the Breda-based digital art collective SMACK created a contemporary interpretation of the famous painting The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch. In the following years, they also produced new versions of the side panels of this triptych. Curious about how Hieronymus Bosch would interpret their work, they had AI regenerate it into a panorama in his style. The gigantic print on mesh fabric coincided with the official opening of the Oranje Zuid parking garage. 

Location

Concordiastraat

Year

2024

Photo: Edwin Wiekens

On 21 August 2022, one of the most famous cycling tours in the world passed through and along Breda: La Vuelta. It became a celebration of 100 days where cycling was at the centre. To create a lasting memory of this event, illustrator and artist Daan Botlek created this mural.

On both sides of the tunnel, a peloton of cyclists can be seen. The colours are inspired by the different jerseys awarded during the Vuelta.

Location
Cycling tunnel Fatimastraat

Unveiled 
2023

This painting by Robert Jan Lechner depicts the transformation of humans and water. It is based on Molenleij, a nearby urban stream. Centuries ago, this stream served as a ditch between agricultural fields. Nowadays, it is an urban stream that runs through the Brabantpark district.

Robert Jan was inspired by old school plates depicting streams, rivers, and plants. The structure of this Blind Wall consists of a cross-section, focusing on three animals: a beaver, a fish, and a heron. They represent land, water, and air.

Location
Hooghout 67 (Turkooishof)

Unveiled 
2023

Vision is one of our most important senses. The eye is central to this painting, featuring a pattern of the well-known Breda eye tile as a starting point. Some eyes look directly at the viewer, while others look away.

This project has been initiated by Specsavers and incorporated into the collection by Blind Walls Gallery.

Location
Spoorstraat 13 

Unveiled
2023

This year, several murals have been installed at the Chassé Theatre. Otto Baum painted the wall of the foyer by the Kleine Zaal. Rutger Termohlen, Erosie, and Marije Vermeulen provided paintings for corridors and dressing rooms. These are not accessible to the public. 

Location
Chassé Theatre, Claudius Prinsenlaan 8

Unveiled 
2023

The  ‘You Are Welcome’ in this painting aligns with the core values of the cultural centre Nieuwe Veste: everyone is welcome. The word ‘welcome’ deserves the most prominent place in the design. Each letter has a different appearance, colour, and feel. This represents diversity and gives each letter a unique character, just like the visitors of Nieuwe Veste.

The letters also illustrate what happens behind the doors of Nieuwe Veste. An ‘E’ is depicted on a piece of paper (literature and creativity), while another  takes the form of a musical note (music offerings).

Location
Molenstraat 6, next to the entrance of Nieuwe Veste

Unveiled 
2023

Together with workshop leaders Rebecca Meelhuijsen and Joop Bongaerts, Grote Broers en Zussen created this mural depicting what GBGZ means to them.

Location
Bastenakenstraat 46

Unveiled 
2023

Artist and illustrator Maaike Canne created this mural to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the residential care complex Park Zuiderhout in Teteringen. The painting combines the stories of the Mission House from the past and the care home of today. She hopes to give the viewer a warm feeling and let them daydream of distant places.

Location
Park Zuiderhout,
Arnold Janssenlaan 46, Teteringen

Unveiled 
2023

The 37-metre high ‘view of the Vuchtpolder’ refers to the military past and the water-rich nature reserve of today.
During the 80 Years' War, the Vuchtpolder was strategically flooded, making it impossible for soldiers to traverse the area. The woman looks out over the polder, just like the soldiers did in the past. The flower ‘Spanish Rider’, depicted underwater, refers to the Spanish soldiers who could not make the crossing towards Breda. The water represents reflection and purity. Fairy tale characters often recur in the work of artist Super A.

Location
Cornelis Joosstraat 1

Unveiled 
2023

During the renovation and redesign of the Liniekwartier neighbourhood, a lot of attention is given to sustainability and climate adaptation. Eveline Schram therefore centred her two paintings around greening, biodiversity, and connection.

The artworks are enhanced with climbing plants and bee hotels made of ceramics, created by local residents. This way, the murals become part of the nature-rich environment.

Location
Jan van der Heijdenstraat 11
Swammerdamstraat 11

Unveiled 
2023

Behind these windows lies the depot of Stadsarchief Breda. Artist Bas Steens created collages from old prints, paintings, glass negatives, photographs, letters, and slides, inspired by the oldest and most striking visual documents he discovered in the archives.

By combining old techniques and materials with digital editing, chalk, and spray paint, it becomes a vibrant and contemporary representation of the city and the contents of the city archives.

Location 
Parade 11

Unveiled 
2023

This Blind Wall tells about one of humanity's most loyal friends: the horse. Horses have been accompanying mankind for centuries in various circumstances.

Breda was an important military city due to its strategic location and became a significant transit route between the south and the north. The painting is also a tribute to the making of exploratory voyages.

The use of cold and warm colours represents day and night. The MonkeyBird Crew drew inspiration from the painting 'The Surrender of Breda', created by artist Velasquez.

Location
Behind the Lange Stallen
Unveiled 
2023