Studio Giftig

Studio Giftig is Niels van Swaemen and Kaspar van Leek, painting together since 2007 and working full-time on murals since 2012. Their images arrive at building scale with cinematic light and unnervingly finished surfaces, but the realism never slips into stiffness. They shoot their own reference material, which helps explain the control. Even then, some of the illusion stays slightly mysterious.

Studio Giftig is a Dutch art collective based in Eindhoven, formed by artists Niels van Swaemen and Kaspar van Leek. Known for their highly detailed, surreal murals that blend photorealism and graffiti, the duo has created large-scale works that leave a lasting impact on viewers. Their style mixes intricate, lifelike imagery with dreamlike, surreal elements, often exploring themes of human connection, nature, and technology. One of their major projects was a mural at Eindhoven’s Thomas Hall, where they painted over 600 square meters with photorealistic graffiti. Their work caught international attention for its scale, depth, and technical precision. In 2022, they created the "Close to You" mural, inspired by pop singer Eva Simons’ life story. This piece was featured at the STRAAT street art museum in Amsterdam, showcasing their versatility in blending music, art, and personal narrative into a single piece. Studio Giftig’s work is celebrated for its storytelling ability, with each mural offering a detailed and complex visual experience. Their art continues to push boundaries in street art, combining modern techniques with timeless themes to create visually striking and thought-provoking pieces.