In 1984, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen acquired Willem de Kooning’s sculpture Seated Women (1969), with a contribution from the Fonds Stadsverfraaiing of the Municipality of Rotterdam. The work was installed on the Hofplein. To mark De Kooning’s centenary in 2004, CBK Rotterdam entered into a loan agreement with The Willem de Kooning Foundation, New York. Since then, Reclining Figure (1969–82) and Standing Figure (1969–84) have, together with Seated Woman, formed a unique ensemble on the Hofplein.
In the summer of 2025, the sculptures were temporarily placed in storage due to the redevelopment works on Hofplein. The three artworks form a key starting point for the new design of Hofplein by landscape architects Juurlink+Geluk, which envisages a green and car-free city centre.
From 18 July 2026, the sculptures will be on temporary display on the quay near the Fenix Museum, at the spot where De Kooning boarded the SS Shelley a hundred years ago and set sail for New York. Sculpture International Rotterdam and The Willem de Kooning Foundation are closely involved in the realisation of this temporary exhibition. In 2027, we will celebrate the return of the three sculptures to the refurbished Hofplein.
Publicatiedatum: 09/07/2026
