Naomi Kaempfer

Naomi Kaempfer is an artist whose work transcends the boundaries of traditional portraiture, creating a bridge between the personal and universal. With a background in industrial design, philosophy, and law, Naomi brings a unique, multi-faceted perspective to her painting. Her journey as a painter began in childhood, nurtured by her grandfather’s Japanese art collection and her family’s deep appreciation for aesthetics.

Naomi Kaempfer’s work offers a fresh, almost scriptural take on modern-day portraiture, its meaning, and its rich expressions. Captivated by the human face and its many landscapes, Kaempfer draws from past and personal relationships with her subjects to reflect upon our sense of belonging and human connection. In the modern age, dominated by the pervasive selfie, paint-based portraiture has re-emerged—not to post, but to postulate; not to answer, but to question our role in the world and how we present, feel and express ourselves within it. Her earlier use of cardboard as a substrate further embodies the transient nature of human existence, alluding to the impermanence of life and the wrinkles of time. The subjects of her work introduce us to deeply personal stories that resonate universally.

Beyond her artistic work, Naomi has been at the forefront of the art and design scene for over 23 years. As a Creative Director in the field of 3D printing, she has spearheaded the creation of cutting-edge collections that have been adopted by the world’s leading museums. Her role in advancing the use of 3D technology in art, design, and fashion has positioned her as a pioneer, collaborating with major global institutions such as MoMA, the Pompidou, the MET and the V&A. Her contributions have shaped a whole culture around digital design and innovation, seamlessly blending art, technology, and human connection.

Her art and design work exists as a powerful fusion of both physical and metaphysical worlds, allowing her to consistently challenge traditional boundaries while creating a lasting impact in the artistic community. Naomi’s career and paintings together embody a profound commitment to exploring humanity, its emotional depth, and its place within the rapidly changing landscape of the modern world.

Exhibitions Artist Paintings:

2024 Google Quantum Computer Headquarters . Santa Barbara CA USA. Commission.

“Hallerbos” 250 x 100 cm. Group exhibition. Curated by Forest Stearns

2023 Bloomfield Science Museum Israel, Jerusalem, Israel. “The freedom to create“. Self portrait

2021 Pedrami gallery, Antwerp. “Face to Face” 23 paintings. Solo Exhibition.

2019 Brussels Accessible Art Fair. Bozar Brussels, Belgium .Exhibition. 21 Works.

2010 Brussels Accessible Art Fair. Bozar Brussels ,Belgium .Exhibition. 19 Works.

2003 – 2004 Volcker Und Freunde Gallery, Berlin, Germany. “Works on paper”. 11 paintings. “No One has the full picture” portrait of Anna Frank.

2000-2001 DAE Eindhoven. The Netherlands. Solo Exhibition 18 works.

2000 Naga Gallery Jerusalem. 11 works . Group exhibition.

1999 Expo Tel Aviv. Group exhibition.

1999 The Jerusalem Theatre . Group Exhibition.

1997 SHATZ ART Gallery Jerusalem. 4 works, group exhibition.

Exhibitions as Creative Director , Creator of Collections Pioneering 3d Printed Art Design and Fashion:

2023 Vancouver Art Gallery, USA. “Fashions Fictions”. Wanderers Collection The Sixth Element collection 2014, curated by Diana Freundl .

2023 CID Grand Hornu, Belgium. “Superpower” . TechStyle Collection with Jasna Rok and Filippo Nassetti.

2023 Musee des Arts Decoratifs Paris. France. Ludi Nature with Iris van Herpen and Vespers Collection.

2022 Beijing Art and Technology Biennale, China. Vespers collection, curated by Naiyi Wang.

2022 SFMoMA , CA USA “Nature x Humanity” 3d printed collection made in collaboration with Neri Oxman.

2022 Museum of the future (MoTF) , Dubai. “Today Tomorrow”. AI shoes Collection .

2022 MAK Museum Vienna, Permanent collection works with Neri Oxman and Julia Koerner.

2021 GYRE, Japan, “Another Space Odyssey” The Sixth element collection 2014 Wanderers curated by Yohsuke Takahashi.

2021 Walker Art Center. MN USA “Design for Different Futures” works with Threeasfour and Julia Koerner.

2021 Taubman Museum of Art.VA USA. “Fashion in the Digital Age”. Works with Iris Van Herpen, and ThreeAsfour.

2020 Design Museum Den Bosch. “BodyDrift : Anatomies of the Future” Vespers Collection, The New Ancient.

2020 MoMA NYC , “Material Ecology” 3D printed artwork collection with Neri Oxman for Stratasys.

2019 SFMoMA “Far Out: Suits, Habs, and Labs for Outer Space” Wanderers collection: An Astrobiological Exploration, curated by Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher and Joseph Becker.

2019 Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA “Designs for Different Futures” SSYS Collection Launch with Julia Koerner, ThreeASFOUR, Neri Oxman. Curated by Kathryn B. Hiesinger and Michelle Millar Fisher.

2019 Mori Art Museum, Japan “The Future of Arts”, Collection with Neri Oxman curated by Kondo Kenichi.

2019 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum NYC, “Nature, Design Trienalle” , works created in collaboration with ThreeAsfour ( Pangolin) and Neri Oxman.

2019 Barbican Center UK “AI exhibition”. Vespers Collection.

2019 Groninger Forum, Netherlands. “AI exhibition” Vespers Collection curated by Luke Kemp.

2019 Milan Design Week “Smart City: People, Technology, and Materials” Vespers Collection,curated by Giulio Ceppi.

2019 Museum Arnhem, Netherlands.“Body Control” Vespers Collection. Curated by Anne-Karlign van Kesteren.

2018 Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Works with Neri Oxman, curated by Adam Štěch.

2018 Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.Denmark. “The Moon From Inner Worlds to Outer Space” . Wanderers collection. curated by Marie Laurberg,

2018 China Academy of Fine Arts “Beijing Media Art Biennale: Post Life” Vespers: A Collection of Death Masks, 7 works.

2017 SFMoMA CA USA . Acquisition Gemini Chair by Stratasys collection design Neri Oman..

2017 Momentum Kunsthall. Norway. “Nordic Biennial for Contemporary Art”. The New ancient. Vespers: Death Masks, 5 works, curated by Ilari Laamanen.

2017 National Gallery of Victoria .”NGV Triennial” . Vespers Collection of Death Masks, 15 works, curated by Simone LeAmon and Ewan McEoin.

2017 Pompidou Paris, “Printing the world” collection created with Dov Ganchrow, Daniel Widrig, and Neri Oxman, curated by MarieAnge Brayer.

2017 Pompidou Paris “Mutations Creations” Chair created with Ross Lovegrove.

2017 Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, WA , USA. “Technology and the Creative Beyond” Wanderers collection. 3 works curated by Valerie Fletcher.

2017 ArtScience Museum Singapore. “An Astrobiological Exploration” Wanderers collection The sixth Element. Curated by Nanjo Fumio and Tsubaki Reiko.

2016 Rijksmuseum Twenthe, Netherlands. “Danger and Beauty – Turner and the tradition of the sublime” Works in collaboration with Eyal Gever.

2016 Design museum London. “Fear and Love” Vespers Masks Collection with Neri Oxman. The New ancient collection. Photos by Danielle Van Zadelhoff. curated by Justin McGuirk.

2016 MFA Boston, “#techstyle” Dresses in collaboration with Iris van Herpen and Neri Oxman. Curated by Michelle Finamore

2016 THE MET NYC “Manus ex Machina”. Fashion Works in collaboration with ThreeAsfour, Noa Raviv and Iris Van Herpen

2016 Red Dot Design Museum “A Difference in Making. Making a difference” The .MGX Collection. Volume.MGX, Fractal T.MGX, One SHot.MGX , And Chair with Zaha Hadid Architects. curated by Marta Male Alemany.

2016 Lieu Du Design Paris. ‘3D Printing – Factory of the Future’, MGX collection Quin.MGX C2 One Shot.MGX

2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, Palazzo Franchetti. Italy “Zaha Hadid Retrospective” 3D printed Chair in collaboration with Zaha Hadid, Patrick Shoemacher and Shajay Bhooshan.

2016 San Jose Museum of Art., CA “Beauty: National Design Triennial”The Sixth element collection. Wanderers. Curated by Ellen Lupton and Andrea Lipps.

2016 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, NYC “Beauty: Design Triennial” Wanderers for Stratasys Sixth Element collection. Curated by Ellen Lupton and Andrea Lipps.

2015 National Design Museum Stockholm, Sweden. “Domestic Futures” The Sixth Element Wanderers collection. Curated by Lisanne Fransen

2015 ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, “Globale :Exo Evolution” 3D Printed Collection with Zaha Hadid Architects, Daniel Widrig , Eyal Gever and Neri Oxman . Curated by Peter Weibel

2015 BOZAR Brussels Belgium. “A Difference in Making. Making a difference” The .MGX Collection. Volume.MGX, Fractal T.MGX, One SHot.MGX , And Chair with Zaha Hadid Architects. curated by Marta Male Alemany.

2014 Le Laboratoire Paris Gallery. Gemini Chaise Lounge. SSYS collection.Curated by David Edwards

2014 Seoul Design festival. .MGX collection. AI.MGX. Solid S1 and OneShot.MGX Volume.MGX.

2014 3D Tora Athens Greece. MGX collection. Fractal.MGX. C2M and One Shot.MGX.

2013 MAD Museum of Art and Design NYC “Out of Hand : Materialising the Postdigital” MGX collection. Lily.MGX with Janne Kytannen . Volume.MGX with Dror Benshetrit and Produced works for Frank Stella 3D printed Sculptures. Curated by Ron Labaco.

2013 MAD Museum of Art and Design NYC. Museum acquisition Lily.MGX. Volume.MGX

2013 Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. MGX by Materialise , “One Shot and C2” with Patrick Jouin.

2011 Design Museum London. UK. “This is Design” Fall of the Damned MGX.

2011 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum NYC, “Set in Style”. Collection MGX by Materialise . Acquisition Mylight.MGX with Lars Spuybroek. Future Systems Bowl.MGX with Amanda Levete. C2 and One Shot.MGX with Patrick Jouin.

2011 Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) , London. Solid C1 Solid T1.Fractal T.MGX. One Shot.MGX. Solid S1. Bloom.MGX with Patrick Jouin and Escapism with Iris Van Herpen.

2011 Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) , London. Acquisition Fractal T.MGX

2011 Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Canada. Acquisition Fractal T.MGX

2010 Santa Monica Museum of Art. CA USA “Luminescence“ .MGX collection with Arik Levy.

2010 M Luseum , Leuven Belgium. MGX Collection. Fall of The Damned.MGX

2010 Design Museum Holon. Israel. Collection MGX. One Shot. Fall of the Damned. Lily Lotus. Curated by Galit Gaon and Li Edelkoort.

2010 THE MET NYC . Acquisition Fractal.MGX MGX by Materialise Collection.

2009 Design Miami. USA . Volume.MGX with Dror Benshetrit.

2009 Design Museum Brussels. Belgium. Fractal.MGX Museum Acquisition.

2009 Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) , London. “ Telling Tales: Fantasy and Fear in Contemporary Design” .MGX Collection. Fall of the Damned.MGX with Luc Merx. Curated by Gareth Williams.

2009 Moss Gallery NYC. Murray Moss. .MGX collection : Julia.MGX. Hidden .MGX Fractal.MGX. Mylight.MGX. C2 and One Shot.MGX. Damned.MGX.

2008 Mudam Museum of Modern ART Luxembourg. Acquisition Hidden.MGX

2008 Phillips De Pury NYC. “Atmospherics” Vases collection created with Hani Rashid.

2007 Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) USA . Acquisition C2 Chair. Patrick Jouin. MGX collection.

2007 MoMA NYC . Collection MGX acquisition. Lily.MGX. OneShot.MGX. Lotus.MGX.

2007 Chicago Design museum . Museum acquisition Polyvase.MGX with Dan Yeffet.

2006 MoMA NYC , “Digitally Mastered” , Curated by Paola Antonelli. The first 3D printing collection includes 14 artworks in collaboration “One Shot and C2” with Patrick Jouin, Amanda Levite, Janne Kytannen, Jiri Evenhuis, Lionel Theodore Dean, and Bathsheba Grossman.

2005 Pompidou Paris. Handshake Light .MGX. Museum Acquisition.

2004 Vitra Design Museum . C2 by MGX with Patrick Jouin.

2004 Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) London. “Brilliant!: Lights and Lighting “ .MGX collection curated by Jane Pavitt.