Tijs Dragtsma (1992) - Il Gesto
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Selected by Heiko Neitzel
Holds a master’s in art and culture mediation with extensive gallery assistant experience.
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Il Gesto is an original, signed Art with Nails portrait sculpture by Tijs Dragtsma (2026), created in mixed media on a 53 × 53 cm white surface with blackened steel nails, in excellent condition.
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Description from the seller
Il Gesto is a sculptural work within the Art with Nails series by Tijs Dragtsma.
The image is not painted or printed. It is constructed through precision and repetition. Hundreds of blackened steel nails emerge from a white surface, forming a figure defined by movement and expression.
At the centre of the composition stands a gesture. The raised hand. The unmistakable articulation of Italian expression. Not merely a movement, but a language.
From a distance the portrait appears graphic and bold. Up close, the surface transforms into a dense landscape of vertical tension and shadow. Each nail operates as an individual mark. A pulse. A beat within a larger visual rhythm.
Light activates the composition. Shadows extend across the white plane, amplifying depth and reinforcing the sculptural presence of the figure. The contrast between blackened steel and the minimal background creates clarity and intensity.
Il Gesto is not a caricature of culture. It is an ode to it. The work reflects the power of expression without words. Communication through posture. Identity through motion.
The gesture becomes architecture. Emotion becomes structure. Impact becomes image.
About Art with Nails
Art with Nails is a self-developed artistic medium in which imagery emerges through the precise placement of steel or brass nails. Rather than applying pigment, Dragtsma constructs form through repetition, rhythm and controlled force.
The works are defined by sculptural depth, material contrast and the interaction between light and shadow. Each nail functions as an individual structural element within a larger spatial composition, allowing the image to shift depending on perspective and illumination.
Every piece is unique and unrepeatable, shaped by material behaviour and cumulative impact.
About the Artist – Tijs Dragtsma
Tijs Dragtsma is a Dutch contemporary artist and founder of TD Fine Art Studio. His practice operates at the intersection of material, structure and light, with a strong focus on developing distinct artistic languages rather than following established traditions.
He is widely recognised for his Art with Nails series, in which hundreds to thousands of steel or brass nails form sculptural portraits that transform with light and viewing angle. Through precision and repetition, he translates digital mapping into physical presence.
Since beginning his artistic practice in 2024, his works have entered private collections across Europe, Asia and the United States, and have been presented internationally. His work is driven by experimentation, technical control and a long-term vision centred on material integrity and spatial experience.
All works are conceived and produced in his studio in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.
Il Gesto is a sculptural work within the Art with Nails series by Tijs Dragtsma.
The image is not painted or printed. It is constructed through precision and repetition. Hundreds of blackened steel nails emerge from a white surface, forming a figure defined by movement and expression.
At the centre of the composition stands a gesture. The raised hand. The unmistakable articulation of Italian expression. Not merely a movement, but a language.
From a distance the portrait appears graphic and bold. Up close, the surface transforms into a dense landscape of vertical tension and shadow. Each nail operates as an individual mark. A pulse. A beat within a larger visual rhythm.
Light activates the composition. Shadows extend across the white plane, amplifying depth and reinforcing the sculptural presence of the figure. The contrast between blackened steel and the minimal background creates clarity and intensity.
Il Gesto is not a caricature of culture. It is an ode to it. The work reflects the power of expression without words. Communication through posture. Identity through motion.
The gesture becomes architecture. Emotion becomes structure. Impact becomes image.
About Art with Nails
Art with Nails is a self-developed artistic medium in which imagery emerges through the precise placement of steel or brass nails. Rather than applying pigment, Dragtsma constructs form through repetition, rhythm and controlled force.
The works are defined by sculptural depth, material contrast and the interaction between light and shadow. Each nail functions as an individual structural element within a larger spatial composition, allowing the image to shift depending on perspective and illumination.
Every piece is unique and unrepeatable, shaped by material behaviour and cumulative impact.
About the Artist – Tijs Dragtsma
Tijs Dragtsma is a Dutch contemporary artist and founder of TD Fine Art Studio. His practice operates at the intersection of material, structure and light, with a strong focus on developing distinct artistic languages rather than following established traditions.
He is widely recognised for his Art with Nails series, in which hundreds to thousands of steel or brass nails form sculptural portraits that transform with light and viewing angle. Through precision and repetition, he translates digital mapping into physical presence.
Since beginning his artistic practice in 2024, his works have entered private collections across Europe, Asia and the United States, and have been presented internationally. His work is driven by experimentation, technical control and a long-term vision centred on material integrity and spatial experience.
All works are conceived and produced in his studio in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.
Details
Artist
Tijs Dragtsma (1992)
Sold by
Direct from the artist
Edition
Original
Title of artwork
Il Gesto
Technique
Mixed media, Mixed technique
Signature
Signed
Country of Origin
Netherlands
Year
2026
Condition
Excellent condition
Colour
Black, White
Height
53 cm
Width
53 cm
Depiction/Theme
Portrait
Style
Contemporary
Period
2020+
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