Ootje Oxenaar: Renowned and beloved Dutch graphic designer and Professor died on 13 June 2017 at his home in Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Born in The Hague, 7 October 1929, Oxenaar was knighted in the Order of Orange Nassau, and the recipient of the Medal of Honor for Art and Science in the House Order of Orange by Queen Beatrix in 2004. Oxenaar was responsible for the revolutionary design of the Dutch paper currency, from 1964-87, including the Sunflower (50 guilders) and Lighthouse (250 guilders) which were internationally celebrated as the most beautiful and least countrified money in the world. His banknotes stayed in circulation from 1964 until being replaced by the Euro in 1999. Oxenaar was also a prolific designer of acclaimed posters, books, and postage stamps. His graphic design work is represented in various collections, including centre national d’art et de Culture GeorgesPompidou Paris, Gemeentemuseum The Hague, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York and Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Oxenaar was member of the Alliance Graphique International (AGI) and an honorary member of the Association of Dutch Designers (BNO). Oxenaar was first a student (1947-58) then tutor (1958-70) at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, and taught as Professor at TU Delft from 1979-92. As Head of the Art and Design advisory bureau (DEV/K+V) at the Dutch Postal and Telecommunications (PTT/KPN) from 1976-94, he was responsible for design and the commissioning of art for the largest Dutch public concern, and served as aesthetic advisor to the Dutch National Bank, and Ministry of Justice and the Danish ministry of Transport. His influence on the next generation of designers was extensive through his work as a commissioner, teacher and international lecturer, in the Netherlands, Europe, and the US. In 2000 Oxenaar emigrated to the US to accompany his wife Dawn Barrett in her appointment as Dean of Architecture and Design at the Rhode Island School of Design. From 1995-2005 Oxenaar continued his studio practice and taught in the Graphic Design Department of RISD. Oxenaar's work is preserved in the Nederlands Archief Grafisch Ontwerpers, Utrecht (NAGO) and in the publication: RDE [Ootje] Oxenaar: Designer and Commissioner by Els Kuijpers (010 publishers, Rotterdam 2011).

Throughout the last decade, Ootje Oxenaar preserved his enlightened spirit with alzheimer's disease. He died as he lived, full of generosity, kindness, humor and beloved. He is survived by his wife, Dawn Barrett, their daughters Emma and Emily Oxenaar (of Paris and Galway Ireland respectively); and in the Netherlands by son Hein Oxenaar of Zoelen; daughter Tourette van Meurs Oxenaar and family members Menso van Meurs, Maria van Meurs; Hannah van Meurs-Verburg, Niels Verburg, Feline and Pepijn Verburg, Suzanne Oxenaar, Ronald Ophuis, Bobo Ophuis; Aart Oxenaar, Vera Simon Thomas, Isa, Sem, and Max Oxenaar; Dorien Oxenaar, Geert Ates, Babs and Ronja Ates. A private ceremony is being held for family and friends on June 18, and an official memorial service scheduled for 7 October 2017 in The Hague, The Netherlands.
In his honor, a charitable, non-profit foundation, The Oxenaar Design Association [ ODA ] has been created to further the legacy of Ootje Oxenaar's work and to advance the Oxenaar contribution to visual culture and the public sphere, through support for education in design and the reward and recognition of outstanding contributions [contact information: ODA at ]

Correspondence address: barrett.oxenaar@gmail.com / 36 Manomet Ave. Plymouth, MA 02360 USA

Dutch Press and Media https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2017/06/16/revolutionair-ontwerper-met-humor-11109163-a1563302 http://nos.nl/artikel/2178340-ontwerper-beroemde-en-revolutionaire-guldenbiljetten-overleden.html https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2017/06/15/ontwerper-guldenbiljetten-ootje-oxenaar-87-overleden-a1563131 http://www.volkskrant.nl/mode-en-mooi/zijn-biljetten-maakten-het-nederlandse-geld-wereldwijdbijzonder-en-je-werd-er-vrolijk-van~a4500977/ http://nos.nl/uitzending/25517-nos-journaal.html [ 15 June 17:00 ]