Rio Drop (b. 1992) is a Dutch visual artist. She obtained a BFA from the Royal Academy of Fine Art The Hague in 2022. After graduating, she relocated to Örebro, Sweden, where she previously received foundational artistic training.
Rio's work emerges from concept, letting materiality follow after this. As a result, her practice extends over a variety of media, such as sculpture, installation, video, print and performance. Valuing ‘the real’ over representation for its ability to connect to lived experience, she incorporates pre-existing objects into her work. As a result, most frequently, it takes the shape of assemblage. Recent works have focussed on the themes of loss and resilience, reclamation of the body, and transience and absent mindedness.
Previous solo exhibitions include Point of View at Bunkern Gallery (2018) and Let Your Hair Down at The Contemporary Garage (2017). Her work has been included in group exhibitions in Sweden, The Netherlands and Malta.
In 2021, she was the first resident of artist collective KonstBunkern’s summer studio programme. During three months she expanded her knowledge and experience in dyeing large textiles using kitchen and supermarket waste. In addition to her studio practice, she teaches art theory at Örebro Art College with a focus on practical exercises to prepare students to work independently in the field of art.
Upcoming exhibition
2023, August 5-6   Pop-Up Festival, Pop-Up Arts, Copenhagen DK

Education
2019 - 2022     Bachelor of Fine Arts, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague NL
2016 - 2019     Fine Art Foundation, Örebro Art School, Örebro SE
2010 - 2014     Fine Woodworking, Hout- en Meubileringscollege, Rotterdam NL
Solo exhibitions
2021     Sommarresident, Paviljong Lux, Örebro SE
2018     Point of view, Bunkern Gallery, Örebro SE
2017     Let your hair down, The Contemporary Garage, Örebro SE
Duo exhibitions
2021    skin (textile) body, with Daria Edström, Paviljong Lux, Örebro SE
2019     Rio Drop & Charlotte Ostritsch, Galleri Exposé, Örebro SE
Group exhibitions
2023    POP-UP Festival, POP-UP Art, Copenhagen, DK (upcoming/august 5-6)
2022    VI IAKTTAR EN TYST MINUT, Lindbacka Galleri, Lindbacka SE
             Graduation Exhibition, Royal Academy of Art, Den Haag NL
             ​(Post)Human Imaginaries, Spaarnestad Photo, The Hague, NL
2021    As Is, Where Is, Royal Academy of Art, Den Haag NL
             Review, Trixie, Den Haag NL
             Exhibition Research Lab, Royal Academy of Art, Den Haag NL
2019    Things Will Change, TENT, Rotterdam NL
             Up and Coming, Örebro Konsthall, Örebro SE
2018    Mahalla festival: Generating New Narratives, Diyalog Dernegi, Valletta MT
             Svensk Konst Nu!, Nora Art, Nora SE
             Now's The Time, Örebro Konsthall, Örebro SE
             Slättens Vårsolanche, Galleri Slätten, Malmö SE
2017    Springtime for XXXXXX, Örebro Konsthall, Örebro SE
​2016    Örebro Konstskolas Vårutställning, Örebro Konsthall, Örebro SE
Residencies
2021    Summer Studio Residency, KonstBunkern SE

Curating
2021    1/1 - This Is Not a Copy, This Is an Exhibition, Royal Academy of Art, Den Haag NL

​Grants
2023     International Grant - Culture, Region Örebro Län SE
2018     International Grant - Culture, Region Örebro Län SE
2018     Studio Scholarship, Örebro Art College SE