On 10 September 2018, Co Westerik passed away in Rotterdam at the age of 94 years. In 2019, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen will bring a homage to the artist with a small retrospective of works selected from his extraordinary oeuvre.

Co Westerik is best known as a painter, but he also made many drawings. He used many techniques, including pen, pencil, chalk, water colour and Indian ink to draw scenes derived from reality. The poetic character of Westerik’s drawings induce feelings and emotions. He spent a long time on his paintings, carefully building them up layer by layer, but in contrast his drawings are fast and transient.

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has often featured the work of Co Westerik; the last time was in 2014 to mark his 90th birthday and a publication about his oeuvre.