Biography

1937

Born in Renkum

1940 - 1945

War 1940 – 1945 | Jits’ father Gerardus Bakker was executed on the 5th September as a member of the Dutch resistance | Battle of Arnhem September 1944 | Evacuated to Friesland

1946

1 year to Sweden

1950

3 years school for craft decorative painters.

1954

Arnhem Academy of arts in the specialization ‘Fine Art.’ Finished in 1957. | Graphic designer in Ede

1955

Jits sails one year on the European rivers

1956

ArtEZ academy of arts Arnhem, specialization fine art. | Advertising company Arnhem

1957 - 1959

Jits’ discovers the world at see during his 2 years Royal Navy service

1959

Graduated as graphic designer at the Graphic lyceum Utrecht. | First solo exhibition of watercolors and portraits in Café het Zwaantje, Renkum. | Theatre Reehorst, Ede

1960 - 1962

Junushoff, Wageningen | Arts Centre van Binsbergen, Arnhem | St. Sebastiaan Doelen, Doesburg

1962 - 1964

Buytink, Dordrecht | H.M. Queen Juliana receives a watercolor of Drakesteijn castle during her visit to the engineering firm Grontmij n.v. | Music School, Velp | Junushoff, Wageningen

1964 - 1966

Arti Art Gallery, Utrecht | Regional museum, Rhenen | Arts centre Heuff, Wassenaar | Art centre Kuyl, Bilthoven

1966 - 1968

Town-hall, Haarzuilen | Town-hall, Zevenaar | Arti Art Gallery, Utrecht | Van Reekum gallery, Apeldoorn | Cultural Centre De Rosmolen, Sliedrecht

1968 - 1970

Recreation Park Lingebos (unveiling of a glass mosaic by H.R.H. Princess Beatrix) | Z.L.M. Goes (H.M. Queen Juliana was present during the exhibition for the 125th anniversary of Z.L.M. Goes) | Arts centre Heuff, Wassenaar | Regionaal museum, Rhenen | First exhibition in Jits’ legendary studio ‘de kooi’, De Bilt

1970 - 1972

Town-hall and pavilion, Westerbork | T.H. Enschede | De Nieuwe Doelen, Gorinchem | Gallery Zijlstraat, Haarlem

1972 - 1974

Zeist castle | Jits designs the AVRO national sports prize ‘de Jaap Eden’ | TV reportage about Jits and ‘de Jaap Eden’ (AVRO TV) | AVRO Studio special with Jits in Hilversum, ‘Paard in de Kunst’ Boxtel | Ouwehands Zoo, Rhenen (‘Animals in Animals’) | Castle town-hall De Kinkelburg, Bemmel

1974

TV special about JitsArt studio by ‘NOS Van Gewest tot Gewest’ | Rotterdam city refuses the 7 meters high statue ‘Satépen’ while Eindhoven city embraces it. | Arnhem city refuses the statue ‘Nar’. The sculpture is placed in Kerkrade | Jits Creates the Bob Fischer award for the world chess championship | Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (group exhibition by ‘St.Lucas’ and ‘Stuwing’, Amsterdam. Opening of JitsArt studio ‘de kooi’ by Ton of Duinhoven | First Christmas exhibition in JitsArt studio and sculpture garden, De Bilt which is repeated annually.

1975 - 1977

50 years Tetterode glass, Amsterdam | Gallery Tholen, Bergen and Haarlem | Arts centre ‘de Hoge Hees’, Eersel Unveiling of the statue ‘Tikkertje’, Sliedrecht | Park exhibition, De Bilt | Singer Museum, Laren

1977

The statue ‘Karnster’ revealed in Leeuwarden city | Unveiling ’De Wolkammer’ (240 cm), Veenendaal city. Exhibition in the garden of Baron Hischemoeller Beverly Hills L.A. USA, with amongst others sculptures of Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris | TV Special, Veronica broadcast from Los Angeles, USA Amro gallery Amsterdam and Den Haag | Gallery Hulssen, Leeuwarden

1978

Unveiling of the sculpture ‘Haast’, Hoevelaken | National museum of Fine Arts La Valletta Malta | Ton Manders wins the 1st prize at the international festival of Long Island, New York USA with a film about Jits ´Bronze alive´ | Gallery Vaccarino Florence Italy.

1979

Unveiling ‘Sets runners’ and ‘Dancing Nar’, Kerkrade | Amsterdam Schiphol Airport | Gallery Hawaï Honolulu USA

AKG Ploeghhuis, Amersfoort | Gallery de Kloosteresch, Almelo

1980 - 1982

1982

Art forum Schelderode Belgium | Art Gallery Embryo Leuven Belgium | Bienal d´Echirolles Grenoble France Vale do Lobo Algarve Portugal | Unveiling ‘Wolkammer’, 250 cm, Veenendaal

1983

Unveiling ‘Trumpet player’, Veghel | Ann Jacob Gallery Atlanta USA | Gallery Gérard Laubie Paris France | Exhibition Institut Néerlandais Paris.

1984

Loch Haven Museum Orlando Florida USA | Retrospective Hyatt Grand Cypress, Orlando Florida USA Unveiling of the 300 cm bronze statue ´Bolero’ and the 250 cm bronze statue ‘fluteplayer´ | Gallery der Blaue Kreis Dorsten Germany Gallery Aelbrecht, Rotterdam | Theatre ´t Spant, Bussum | The Beaches of Longbot Key Club Sarasota Florida USA Gallery de Kloosteresch, Almelo

1985 - 1987

Westfriese Flora, Bovenkarspel | Gallery ´t Begijntje, Lochem | Gallery de Vis, Harlingen | Gallery Arvil Mexico City | The sculpture ‘Sliding were auctioned during the Mundial 1986. The Revenues were for the largest orphanage of Mexico Unveiling of the ‘Poseidon brunnen’ (600 cm) in front of the Poseidon Haus, Frankfurt am Main Germany

1987

Städtische Tunmgallery Walkenbrückentor Coesfeld Germany | Retrospective Art forum Schelderode Belgium Retrospective in Singer Museum Laren and monograph release | Gallery Koch Hannover Germany Gardens and Art Centre Oostende Belgium

1988 - 1990

Castle museum Wychen (H.M. Queen Beatrix to visit) | Reprinted Beeldspraak | Singerweitje Blaricum | Animal zoo Amersfoort | De Beukenhof Oegstgeest | Keukenhof Lisse (25 sculptures during the 40th anniversary of the keukenhof) Reformed Church Kortenhoef (exhibition for blind people | Gallery Esprit Clinge, Zeeuws Vlaanderen, Belgium.

1990

Jits’ art on TEFAF (The Eurepean Fine Art Fair) Maastricht | Galeria de Arte Benedito Málaga SPAIN | 25 sculptures in Park Hartenstein (City Hall and various locations in the town, homage exhibition of his birthplace Oosterbeek) | Synagogue and Park alongside the Ijssel river) Kampen | Town hall, Putten | Police office, Ridderkerk |´Paratrooper´ unveiled at the Airborne Museum Oosterbeek.

1991 - 1993

Unveiling of the 3 meters high marble statue ´Pallas´ in City Hilton Hotel München Germany | Dutch Pavilion Olympic Games Barcelona Spain | Art forum Schelderode Belgium | Sculptures of Jits’ in a NCRV TV special ‘meditatief moment’

1993

Unveiling ‘Vogelnest’ Veenendaal | Castle Herkenshage and Cultural centre Mariëndael St. Oedenrode. Ahoy Rotterdam (during ABN-AMRO tennis tournament) | Art Gallery Anne van Hoof/Elian Lisart Antwerp Belgium | Estate Lauswolt Beesterzwaag | Castle ´Huisbergh´ ´s-Heerenberg | ´Hilvertshof´ Hilversum (30th anniversary of the shopping mall) | Rotterdam police Head office | TV Special about Jits’ sculpture garden in ´Weg van de snelweg’.

1994

Exhibition of 27 sculptures during the 45th anniversary of the famous Keukenhof, Lisse | Large Church Veere, Retrospective | Kijk-Bungalow, Groningen | Apollo avenue, Amsterdam | Sculpture-Biennale ´94 Jagershuis, Ouderkerk aan de Amstel | City hall, Arnhem | Homage of the Battle of Arnhem and unveiling of the ´Airborne-Parachutist´, city hall Arnhem. The design of the statue was presented to H.R.H. Prince Charles.

1995

Jits receives the Movado Museum price and becomes artist of the yaer | ´Art and Antiques fair´, Cultural Centre Scharpoord Belgium, 5 large sculptures on the Keijserlei Antwerp Belgium, | Art Gallery Natascha Knokke Belgium | Museum Mariënhof Amersfoort. Universary of Jits’ 35 years art | TV-producer Endemol, sculpture for international soundmixshow

1996

Castle Doorwerth | Warm Springs Roosevelt Centre Atlanta Paralympics ´96, H.R.H. Prince Willem Alexander and Ann Roosevelt reveals the sculpture ´Wheelchair player´ | Unveiling ´Water well´, City hall Bussum | Castle Amerongen

1997

Fitting Jits permanent museum sculpture park Beerschoten De Bilt | Castle Groeneveld Baarn | Gallery Elian Lisart, Brussel Belgium | Sterzing South-Tirol unveiling ´Waterwell´ | Botanischer Garten der Universität Göttingen Germany Jits created a bronze statue of Elvis, 70 cm, during Elvis Forever (1977-1997). Donated to the museum of Elvis Presley, Memphis USA by the Jordanaires and Elvis’ personal friend, former Sheriff Thomas B. Morgan of Memphis

1998

Unveiling ‘Sundance’ created from stone and bronze, 900 cm, in the city centre of Loulé Algarve-Portugal During the world exhibition ‘Expo '98 Lisbon’ 5 large sculptures of Jits have been placed in the centre of Lisbon | Exhibition of statues in the city Loulé and Ouarteira, Algarve-Portugal. | Exhibition Kurhaus Scheveningen. Two large sculptures were auctioned during the Ronald mc-Donald gala. The Ronald mc-Donald foundation received the revenues.

1999

Opening ‘Museum beelden op beerschoten’ where 30 sculptures of Jits are permanently exhibited in an open-air museum. | Jits creates a 700 x 300 cm large fresco about the subject ‘Millennium’. The fresco was created in the Academy Building of Utrecht University, Utrecht city centre. Unveiling ‘Peuters’, bronze 100 cm by H.R.H. Princess Margriet in the Ronald mc-Donald house Utrecht. Retrospective in castle Vaalsbroek, Vaals. | H.R.H. Prince Bernhard receives the sculpture ‘Icarus’ for his for his commitment as patron of flying docters.

2000

Unveiling ‘handstand’, bronze 100 cm, centre Otterlo. | Unveiling ‘Felices’, bronze 180 cm, Plaza Costa del Sol, City centre of Torremolinos, Spain. Exhibition in the City Hall of Torremolinos. | Exhibition ‘terhorst’ castle Loenen, Veluwe. Exhibition ‘Le Meridien’ Apollo Amsterdam.

2001

Unveiling ‘Olympiada dancer’, bronze 200 cm, marketplace Coesveld-Germany. Retrospective in the turm gallery with sculptures in the city. | Unveiling ‘Sunfishers’, bronze 400 cm, boulevard Quarteira, Algarve-Portugal. | Unveiling ‘Circle Communication’, bronze 300 cm in front of the Province house Utrecht, H.R.H. Prince Willem Alexander and H.R.H. Princess Máxima received the design of this sculpture. | Gallery Hoopman Amsterdam. | De Wilmersberg, De lutte.

2002

Unveiling ‘Bathing Lady’, bronze 70 cm, town hall, Maarn. | Unveiling ‘Troubadour’, bronze 180 cm, town square Renkum (birthplace Jits). | Exhibition and art fair in the centre of Bruges. Two large sculptures have been placed in front of the entrance of the famous Belfort. | Exhibition of sculptures in stone L.T. gallery Hamme-Belgium. | Exhibition food, art and design fair, Huis ter Duin Noordwijk. | Unveiling ‘Dancer’, bronze 210 cm, Swifterband, Dronten. | Opening gallery ‘galerie de kloosterput’ Doesburg. Bronze doors ‘Icarusdance’, 235 x 260 cm. unveiled. | Filmed portrait (30 min) broadcast by Ivo Niehe Tros TV show. | 18 sculptures stolen from Jits’ sculpture garden in De Bilt.

2003

Unveiling ‘O’ Ciclista’, bronze 200 x 350 cm, cycling Takeoff tour of Portugal, roundabout Loulé Algarve, Portugal summer exhibition in the city of Beerse, Belgium. | Two statues stolen in Museum Beelden op Beerschoten | Exhibition Gallery Hoeve Rijlaarsdam, Nieuwkoop.

2004

Food, Art & Design Fair, Nieuwegein | Exhibition Helldorfer jewellers, Arnhem. | Paintings retrospective museum Veluwezoom, castle Doorwerth and presenting new paintings book ‘I'm a painter as well’, Doorwerth. | Major exhibition in the former Finnish capital Turku, at the invitation of the Dutch embassy | Unveiling ‘Rainbow’ Waterschap Vallei & Eem, Leusden | 60th Commemoration Battle of Arnhem, H.R.H. Prince Charles received the sculpture ‘Pegasus’, offered by the Airborne Museum, Oosterbeek | Auction Red Cross, Kurhaus Scheveningen | Auction Hearts foundation, Soestduinen | Stolen sculpture ‘cyclists’ detected and reduced.

2005

Opening (Summer) retrospective, museum Elburg, opened by actor Henk van Ulsen. | Summer exhibition in Opduin, Texel, opened by Joke Geldorp-Pantekoek, mayor of Texel. | Unveiling bronze sculpture ‘Pariszuil’, TU Delft University of Technology, by Rector Prof. dr. ir. J.T. Fokkema during the 20th anniversary of the Dutch Universities. | Unveiling bronze sculpture ’Debate’ Academy Building (university) Utrecht, by Rector Prof. dr. W.H. Gispen. | Exhibition castle Vaalsbroek, opened by Monique Quint, mayor of Vaals.

Exhibition ’Meditation’ Knokke, Belgium. | Unveiling sculpture ‘Crucifix’, Zoutekerkje, Knokke Belgium. Unveiling bronze statue ’The brew master’ Grolsch Head office, Zwolle. | F. Kerkhoven receives the bronze statue ‘Adonis & Afrodithe’ by Prof. dr. A. Haspels for his 10-year presidency of the African Docters Gala (ADG) | Exhibition SPANT! theatre Bussum in honour of the 25th anniversary. | Unveiling glass mosaic ´The power of the heart´, 115 x 260 cm, St. Antonius hospital Nieuwegein, in honour of the 95th anniversary.

2006

Exhibition in the cities of the Portuguese Algarve: Tavira, Quarteira, Loulé and Vale do Lobo. | Chairman of the Tour de France, Mr. Jean-Marie Leblanc received the sculpture ‘Tour cyclist’ in Paris from Commissioner of the queen in the province of Utrecht, Mr. B. Staal and the mayor of Utrecht Mrs. A. Brouwer-Korf. | Permanent sculpture exhibition reopened in Vale do Lobo, Algarve, Portugal. | Summer exhibition on the estate Engelenburg, Brummen. | Exhibition Amsterdam Schiphol Airport boulevard, started in October 2006 and ended in January 2009. | Exhibition in Turku, Finland. | Unveiling bronze sculpture ‘Crucifix and Maria Magdalena’, presented by the Rector of the Utrecht University, Prof. dr. W.H. Gispen in the city hall of Loulé. The statue is placed in the city museum of Loulé, Algarve Portugal.

2007

Stolen statue ‘Golfswing’ surfaced in a cycle shop in Den Helder. The artwork was sold and immediately disappeared again. | Bronze statue ‘Piramide d’Amour’, 450 cm unveiled in Zeist. | Major retrospective in and around the town hall of Ede. | Bronze statue ‘Monte Mayor Toro’, 300 cm placed at Monte Mayor, Benahavis (Marbella) Spain. | Two artworks were auctioned for the benefit of the promising immunotherapy for cancer patients during the Rainbow gala in the castle Mookerheide. Auction at the Lage Vuursche for the benefit of the Unique Child Foundation.

2008

WEG VAN KUNST, Kampen. | Group exhibition ‘Hoogspanning’ Wassenaar, opened by H.R.H. Prince Willem Alexander and H.R.H. Princess Máxima. | Jits receives award for the honorary citizenship of the historic capital of Finland by Mr. Mikko Pukkinen, Mayor of Turku. | Bronze statue ‘Europe’ unveiled in the historic Finnish capital Turku by the Dutch Ambassador in Finland, Mr Robert Engels and Mr Mikko Pukkinen, Mayor of Turku. | Painging auctioned during the Helen Dowling Gala in the Fabrique Utrecht, proceeds go to the Helen Dowling Institute. | Bronze sculpture ‘Sun in the Wings’ unveiled at Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport. The artwork, with a height of 5 meter, is placed on a prominent place at the airport for its headquarters at Schiphol Centre. | Jan Janssen, winner of the Tour de France received the bronze statue ‘the climber’.

2009

Museum ‘Beelden op Beerschoten’ officially transferred to the Dutch government, which reopened it on the 13th of march. The new museum is named provincial JitsArt museum, beelden op Beerschoten. Exhibition Rijnstate hospital, Arnhem. | Sculpture exhibition Waterberg Welfare Society, Maarn. | Foundation Tuin de Lage Oorsprong, Oosterbeek. JitsArt tour opened in the 5 villages of his birthplace Renkum. | Airborne Museum Oosterbeek unveiled the bronze statue ‘Guardian’ during the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem. | Helldorfer antiquarian Rozendaal.

2010

Exhibition ‘Europes Finest’ Schloss Moyland Resort, Germany | Paintings exhibition on the estate of Montferland, Zeddam. | The sculpture 'Crucifix have been donated to Museum Elburg by Provinciaal JitsArt Museum and Jits. 'Crucifix' gets a prominent and permanent place in the museum. | Exhibition World Trade Center (WTC) Amsterdam. Auxiliatrixpark Venlo. | Lunenburg Estate, Langbroek. | Bronze sculpture "Motion in life’, 650 cm placed on ‘Europes Finest’ Schloss Moyland Resort, Germany. | Glass Mosaic 'The power of the Heart! ", 115 x 260 cm, St. Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein unveiled honouring its 100th anniversary. | 130 years St. Lucas Art association, CBKAmsterdam.

2011

45th edition Art & Antiques Fair 'S-Hertogenbosch (AFSH) | 10th edition Art Vaals, castle Bloemendal

MUSEUMS

- Museum Warm Springs Roosevelt centre, Atlanta USA

- Tate Modern; museum of modern art, Londen UK

- Wäinö Aaltonen Museum of Art, Turku FINLAND

- OMA - Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Florida USA

- DAM - Deutsches Architekturmuseum, Frankfurt GERMANY

- Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen, Antwerpen BEGIUM

- Museum Clarence House, Londen UK

- National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta MALTA

- Museo municipal Loulé, Algarve PORTUGAL