The Gang of the Blue Hand

The Gang of the Blue Hands was an artist group that arose after a conflict at the Vredeman de Vries Academy, a former art academy in Leeuwarden. This conflict was between a progressive group and the predominantly conservative administrators and teachers of the academy. Some young Frisian artists were dissatisfied with the lack of space and opportunities for new art forms. The gallery de Blauwe Hand offered this space for innovation, and this is where the name of the artist group comes from. The group opened its first exhibition at the gallery. This exhibition was experienced as a shock in the Frisian art world. The group also exhibited outside the province, such as in The Hague and Maastricht. The Gang of the Blue Hands made a breakthrough for modern art in Friesland, and set an example for other artists despite the group's short existence.