Looking ahead to 2026
A year of contrast and commitment
As the year comes to a close, it feels right to pause. Not to summarise everything that happened, but to acknowledge where we stand.
This past year was, in many ways, a challenging one. The fire above the gallery brought an unexpected layer of uncertainty and disruption, asking for patience and flexibility. At the same time, it was also the year in which we placed more artworks than ever before, into private homes, collections and spaces where they continue to live and unfold. That contrast shaped the year: navigating disruption while staying committed to the work and the artists.
Art Rotterdam, March 2025
Returning to exhibitions
From April onwards, Root Gallery will return to exhibitions. The first presentation, Where Light Lands, brings together works by Donald Schenkel, Jeske Haak and Lisette Schumacher.
Where Light Lands
Rather than centring on a single narrative, Where Light Lands unfolds through parallel practices. Light, material and spatial presence shape how the works are experienced, not as themes, but as conditions. Subtle shifts in pigment, reflection and surface respond to natural light moving through the space. Forms remain still, yet never static. What connects the works is not repetition, but restraint: a shared clarity, a deliberate pace, and an attention to how a work reveals itself over time.
The role of the gallery
Root Gallery operates at the intersection of exhibition-making and long-term placement. The gallery’s role is not limited to presenting work, but to actively guide how and where it enters the world, through exhibitions, collections and sustained relationships. This dual focus shapes both the programme and the pace at which it unfolds.
Time, conversation and continuity
Beyond this first exhibition, we are intentionally allowing space.
Early 2026 will be a period of conversation rather than acceleration. We will take the time to sit down with each of the artists we work with - calmly, without urgency - to reflect on their practices and outline future directions together. These conversations form the foundation of the gallery. They are largely invisible, but they shape everything that follows.
Growth with intention
At the same time, Root Gallery will continue to grow. In the coming year, new artists will join the gallery programme. Carefully, and in dialogue with the practices already represented.
Art fairs will remain an important part of our programme. The selection of which fairs to participate in - and when - is a deliberate curatorial choice, guided by context, relevance and long-term positioning. Visibility matters, but it is always aligned with clarity of vision and a pace we consciously set.
Looking forward
Looking ahead to 2026 is therefore less about announcing what comes next, and more about articulating how we want to move forward: with attention, continuity and trust in the process.
We look forward to sharing what unfolds.
PAN Amsterdam, November 2025
