Skip to content

Exhibitions & Education

 Jan Pieter van Voorst van Beest

Fine Art Photographer

A native of the Netherlands, Jan Pieter van Voorst van Beest has resided in Maine since 1970. He started in photography in the early seventies after taking courses at the Portland School of Art. He also studied at the Maine Photographic Workshops with Joyce Tenneson and Arnold Newman. He photographed in a wide variety of geographical locations including the U.S, Europe, South and Central America and the West Indies.

He has shown his work in solo exhibits, while he also participated in group and juried shows at, among others, the Bowdoin College Art Museum, The Art Gallery at the University of Southern Maine, The Alexander Gallery at Westbrook College, the Danforth Gallery, The Portland Museum of Art, the Gallery at the University of New England and the Center for Maine Contemporary Art. He showed photographs in the “Maine Biennial” in 1979 and 1981. His work was also included in several publications among which the book “Self Exposure”, by Reed Massengill at Rizzoli International and Universe Publishing (2006). His book : “New Mainers, Portraits of our Immigrant Neighbors”, was published in February 2009, by Tilbury House Publishers. He is currently represented by the “Stanhope and Spencer Gallery ” in Rockland, Maine.

Some of his books can be seen and purchased on :  http://lulu.com/vanvoorst

He is also a member of the Addison Woolley Artist Group in Portland Maine. ( Addisonwoolley.com)

His latest exhibits include:

Solo Exhibits:

  •               2021:  “Rituals”, Maine Jewish Museum, Portland Maine, February and March
  •               2020:  “New Mainers”, Bauman Family Contemporary Gallery at the Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk, Maine 7/1 to 9/27
  •               2019:  “Urban Street Shots”,  Stanhope and Spencer Gallery, Rockland, Me   August 1st through September 15th
  •               2018:  “New Mainers” at Ocean House Gallery, Cape Eilzabeth, Maine, as a part of the state wide initiative: Making Migration Visible: Traces, Tracks & Pathways by the Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA. From October 12 through October 27.
  •               2017:  Photographs of Portland,  Maine Jewish Museum, Portland, Maine   From March 9th through April 30th
  •               2017:  Photographs:  Immigrant Portraits, at the Camden Public Library (February 2017)/ Mesalonski Highschool Library, Oakland, Me in March and in the Waterville Library in April.
  •               2016:  ” 400 Years of New Mainers”, Maine Historical Society Exhibit, Portland, Maine, February 2016 through May 2016,
  •               2015:  ” Current Work”,  at 3fish Gallery, 377 Cumberland Ave, Portland, Maine
  •               2012:  “Portraits”, Lewis Gallery, Portland Public Library, Portland, Maine
  •               2010:  ” New Mainers, Portraits of our Immigrant Neighbors”, Atrium Gallery, USM, Lewiston, Maine
  •               2010:  ” Summer Show 2010, Photographs by Jan Pieter van Voorst van Beest”,  Palmina & Stephen Pace Galleries of Art, Fryeburg, Maine
  •               2010:  ” Slices of Time, Documenting the Random Moments of Life”, Addison Woolley Gallery at Studio 203, Portland, Me
  •               2009:  ” New Mainers, Portraits of our Immigrant Neighbors”, Art Gallery, UNE, Portland, Maine
  •               2009:  ” New Mainers, Portraits of our Immigrant Neighbors”, Klahr Holocaust and Diversity Ctr, University of Southern Maine, Augusta, Maine
  •               2009:  ” New Mainers, Portraits of our Immigrant Neighbors”, Woodbury Ctr Area Gallery, at the University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine
  •               2006:  ” ExposureX20, Portraits of 20 Artists”, Galeyrie Gallery Fine Arts, Falmouth, Maine
  •               2005:  ” Expositie”, Galerie Marialust, Apeldoorn,  the Netherlands
  •               2003:  ” Extraordinairy Places”,  Creative Photographic Arts Center, Lewiston, Maine
  •               2002:  ” Photographs of Mexico”, The Clown Gallery, Portland, Maine
  •               2000:  ” West Indian Impressions”, Creative Photographic Arts Center, Lewiston, Maine
  •               1999:   ” Ten Days of Prague”, Salt Center for Documentary Field Studies, Portland, Maine
  •               1997:   ”  Trips Back Home”,  Creative Photographic Arts Center, Lewiston, Maine
  •               1996:   ” Not So Still Lifes”,  Creative Photographic Arts Center, Lewiston, Maine
  •               1995:   ” Senses of Place”, Thomas Mosher Cabinet Makers, Portland, Maine

Group  Exhibits

  • 2023:  Cove Street Arts, Out and About, Sept 21 through Nov 18, Curated by Bruce Brown
  • 2022: University of New England Art Gallery, New Acquisitions.
  • 2022: Zero Station Gallery, Qoutidian: Seen, Addison Woolley Artists at Zero Station, April, 2022
  •  2021:   Cove St Arts, Portland, Maine: “Worldwide” Group Exhibit, July 1st -August 21st, 2021
  • 2021:   Union of Maine Visual Artist: February, on line exhibit: Abstract Photograph
  • 2020:   Lenscratch Magazine, On Line Exhibit: “Better Days”
  •  2020:  The Maine Museum of Photographic Arts: ” The Collectors Exhibit”, February 2020 through May 2020
  •   2019:  UNE Art Gallery: “Everyday Maine”, Group Exhibit, February 2019 through June 2019
  •               2018:  Gostiny Dvor Local Lore Museum, Archangel, Russia, Bridges of Friendship exhibit, November and December
  •               2018:  Stonewall Gallery, Yarmouth Maine: November-December, Bridges of Friendship Exhibit (Organized by  the Portland Camera Club and the Photoclub Spoloki of Archangel, Russia)
  •               2018:  Everyday Maine, Group[ Exhibit, Sept 2018 through December 14th, at the Holocaust & Human Rights Ctr at the University of Maine in Augusta.
  •               2018:  Addison Woolley Gallery at UMVA, through September 2018
  •               2018:  The Maine Museum of Photographic Arts: “The Contemporary Portrait 2018” , June 14th through September 2018.
  •               2018:  UNE Art Gallery: Inside the Cube, Looking back over 40 years
  •               2018:  University of New England Art Gallery, Portland, Me: Images of Children; Period and Contemporary Photographs
  •               2017:  Addison Woolley at UMVA, Portland, Maine, September and October
  •               2017:  University of New England, Stephen K. Halpert Photographis Collection at UNE
  •               2016:  Addison Woolley @ 3fish, September 2016 exhibit, Portland, Maine
  •               2016:   Branching Out, photography show, (Curated by Bruce Brown) at UMVA Gallery at CTN, Portland Maine, Jul;y 7th through August 27th
  •               2015:  Portraits of the Artist,  University of New England Art Gallery, Portland, Maine,  November 5, 2015- February 7th, 2016
  •               2015:   A Tale of Three Cities, Paris, New York, Portland.  University of New England Art Gallery, Portland, Maine. July 28- September 25th
  •               2015:  Vox Photographs, Portland, Maine, “Vacationland”     June 18th, 2015
  •               2015:  The Maine Photographic Show, BRAF Gallery, Boothbay Harbor, Maine, 4/11 through 5/1     (3rd prize)
  •               2015:  People: Prints and p[hotographs from the Bruce Brown Collection, The Pace Gallery of Art at Fryeburg Academy, Fryeburg, Maine, 4/27th through September 18, 2015
  •               2015:   Highways and Byways, CMCA sponsored, Lewis Gallery Portland, Maine, May 1st -May 30th
  •               2015:   Addison Woolley at 3Fish, March 2015 exhibit, Portland, Maine
  •               2015:   Vox Photographs, Portland, Maine: Natural  3/26-5/6
  •               2014:   Text+Texture, Engine Gallery, Biddeford, Maine
  •               2014:  Addison Woolley at 3Fish Gallery, ( June Exhibit)
  •               2014:   Recent Acquisitions and Selections from the Permanent Collection,  Art Gallery at UNE, Portland, Maine
  •               2014:   Images of Change: Greater Portland’s Cityscape since 1960, Lewis Gallery, Portland Public Library, Portland, Maine
  •               2013:    Addison Woolley @ 3Fish, Portland, Maine
  •               2011:  ” Stable, Photography 2011″, Susan Maasch Fine Art, Portland, Maine
  •               2010: ”  Small Works, Group Show”, Susan Maasch Fine Art, Portland, Maine
  •               2010: ”  Maine Photographers, Ten Years Later”  Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, Maine
  •               2010: ”  Capture, 50 Photographic Artists”, an exhibit mounted by Elizabeth Moss Gallery and Maine Home & Design magazine”, Falmouth, Maine
  •               2010:  ” The Maine Photography Show”, Juried Exhibition, Boothbay Harbor, Maine
  •               2009:  ” Element Series:Water”, at Addison Woolley Gallery at Studio 203 A, Portland, Maine
  •               2009:  ” New Work” Group Show at the Art Gallery at UNE, Portland, Maine
  •               2008:  ” The Urban Eye”, Addison Woolley Gallery, Portland, Maine
  •               2008:  ” Sing the Body Eclectic”, Addison Woolley Gallery, Portland, Maine
  •               2008:  ” Want, Navigating the Imagination”, Dana Warp Mill Gallery, Westbrook, maine
  •               2008:  ” What’s Nude in Richmond?” Royall Gallery, Richmond, Maine
  •               2007:  ” Marriage of True Minds”, Art Gallery of the University of New England, Portland, Maine
  •               2006:  ” The Maine Photography Show”,  a juried exposition at the Opera House, Boothbay Harbor, Maine
  •               2006:  ” Self Exposure”, Radiant Light Gallery, Portland, Maine
  •               2005:  ” Crossroads”, Group show benefitting the Maine College of Art, Galeyrie Fine Art, Falmouth Maine
  •               2004:  ”  Diversity”,  Group Photographis Show, Galeyrie Fine Art, Falmouth, Maine
  •               2003:  ”  Holiday Show”,  Group Show, Galeyrie Fine Art, Falmouth, Maine
  •               2003:  ”  Group Show”, at the Diamond Edge Art Gallery, Great Diamond Island, Maine
  •               2001:  ” Interiors and Signs of the times”  an exhibition of 20th Century Photographers, Art Gallery at the University of New England, Portland, Maine
  •               2001:  ”  Water Muses”, Radiant Light Gallery, Portland
  •               2001:  ” Just Rewards”,  3 artist show, Danforth Gallery, Portland

Publications & Press:

  1.      2020,  Portland Phoenix, Edgar Allen Beem: Art Seen: “Virtually ‘Abstract Photography’.
  2.      2020, The Hole in th Head Magazine, February Edition
  3.      2017, “Maine, Life in a Day”,  published by Down East Books
  4.      2017,  “Walking”, by Henry David Thoreau, Foreword by Tuchinsky, published by Tilbury House Publishers
  5.      2017,  Maine Sunday Telegram, April 16, Audience Section: Daniel Kany (An honest look at Portland)
  6.      2017,  Maine Sunday Telegram, February 12, 2017:   Street Photography talk
  7.      2016,  Dance Teacher Magazine, September 2016
  8.      2016,  Maine Sunday Telegram,  Sunday January 31st, Audience Section, Kelly Bouchard, 400 Years of New Mainers
  9.      2015,  Maine Sunday Telegram, October 4th, 2015,  Audience Section, Daniel Kany: “Three Cities”
  10.      2015,  Black & White Magazine, 2015 Portfolio contest winners Special Issue, Merit Award
  11.      2015,  Maine Sunday Telegram, March 15th, 2015, Audience Section, Daniel Kany: At 3Fish Gallery, probing questions for the 21th century.
  12.      2015, Photo Review Magazine: the 2013 Competion Winners. (Finally published in 2015)
  13.      2014,  Maine Today Magazine, November 2014,  Portland artists collective finds inspiration…  , Bob Keyes
  14.      2012, ” The Maine Book”, by Bizmagazine
  15.      2011,  “Polaroid Transfers”  (Lulu)
  16.      2010,  Cadence Magazine  (Cover Photo)
  17.      2010,  Maine Sunday Telegram, November, Daniel Kany: Polaroid Transfers..
  18.      2010,  “Photographing Maine, 10 years later”
  19.      2010,  “Slices of Time, Documenting the Random Moments in Life”  (Lulu)
  20.      2009,  “New Mainers, Portraits of our Immigrant Neighbors”, (Tilbury House Publishing)
  21.      2009,  ” Street Life”, Photographs of the Dominican Republic. (Lulu)
  22.      2009,  Maine Sunday Telegram, January,  Book Review New Mainers by Joan Silverman
  23.      2009,  Maine Sunday Telegram, 2/15/2009, New Mainers…, Kelly Bouchard
  24.      2009,  Maine Sunday Telegram,  Portraits of Immigrants, Bob Keyes
  25.      2009,  Portland Monthly, Summer Issue, World Class, Beyond the Cover…
  26.      2008,  “Flesh & Stone”, (Lulu)
  27.      2007,  ” San Miguel” , (Lulu)
  28.      2007,  “Portland, Maine, A Study in Black & White” (Lulu)
  29.      2007,  Portland Sunday Telegram, Phil Isaacson:”Marriage of True minds”
  30.      2006,  Portland Sunday Telegram, Phil Isaacson: “Celebrating the Power of Black and White”
  31.      2006,  Falmouth Community Leader, “Show of Artists Portraits in Galeyrie”
  32.      2006,  Times record, March 24th, Art Blooms in the Woods, by Leslie Talmadge
  33.      2005,  “Expositie, Gallerie Marialust”  Apeldoornse Krant
  34.      2005,  Self Exposure, Universe Publishing, Rizzoli International
  35.      1999, 2000, 2002, and 2004: Words and Images, Maine’s Annual Compendium of Visual and Literary Creativity, Published by the university of Southern Maine
  36.      2002,  Pownal Annual Report, Cover Photo
  37.      2002,  Casco Bay Weekly, April: Competition of Boldness, Victoria Gammon
  38.      1997,   Times Record, October: ” You can go home again” by Doug Hubley
  39.      1997,  Maine Sunday Telegram, October 19th, “Visual Pleasures…” by Phil Isaacson