Giliam & Gort

Between 1990 and 1995, Amsterdam-based duo Jan Giliam and Ben Gort collaborated as a partnership, Giliam & Gort, Projects on Artistic Grounds, creating durable floor paintings for private homes, businesses, galleries, and public spaces. Inspired by ancient rock carvings and cave art, their vibrant compositions transform interiors—from lavatories and balconies to tea houses and ceilings—into immersive artworks. Each piece is site-specific, responding to the space’s use, atmosphere, and objects, and is protected with a coating that makes it resilient to foot traffic, cleaning, and weather. Their work emphasizes interaction and perspective: furniture and movement alter the viewer’s experience, making the painting an integral part of the environment rather than mere decoration.