Onno van Baaren

INFORMATION

My work moves between photography, graphic design, printmaking, and sculpture. I am interested in how objects and images can create moments of motion, interaction, or visual illusion. Some pieces are physically kinetic, while others suggest movement through composition, color, or repetition. Across mediums I try to create work that feels active and engaging, asking the viewer to slow down and look closely.

I first entered the art world through photography in my early teens. Digital photography drew me in because of its speed and its ability to capture motion and fleeting moments. When I began studying at the University of San Diego, I started expanding beyond photography and experimenting with other materials and processes. This shift allowed me to connect my personal interests with academic work and explore how different mediums could inform each other.

Graphic design became a natural extension of my practice. It gives me a way to explore clarity and confusion on a flat surface through typography, image, and layout. I am particularly drawn to print, posters, and visual identity systems that communicate directly while still leaving room for interpretation. Bold color, simple forms, and strong composition are tools I often use to give even static work a sense of movement.

In the sculpture studio I have worked with wood, metal, plaster, and plastic to build functional objects, replicas, and larger statement pieces. My printmaking tends to focus on simple symbolic forms drawn from experiences in my life, translated through graphic shapes and texture. Across all of these mediums, I am interested in how form, material, and motion can work together to create work that feels both precise and playful.