What Thijs Biersteker does

Thijs Biersteker is an ecological artist practice founded in 2011 and based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with production operations run through its wholly-owned Woven Studio in Zaandam and outreach supported by the Woven Foundation. The studio creates data-driven art installations that translate complex environmental and scientific research — climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, air pollution, glaciology, plant neurobiology, and astrophysics — into physical, sensory experiences using sensors, live data feeds, AI, generative art, kinetic systems, and sustainable materials. The core portfolio consists of roughly 20+ distinct installations, including FORESTATE (live satellite forest visualization, WEF Davos 2026), Memories of the Melted (glacier data, Montreux Jazz Festival 2024, 250,000+ visitors), Econario (Biodiversity Intactness Index robotic plant, COP15), Wither (real-time Amazon deforestation), Xylemia (dendrometer-based sap-flow sensors, Ruinart), and Fungal Faculty (VU Amsterdam AI agent). Technical components are developed in collaboration with UNESCO, WHO, Natural History Museum London, ESA, ETH Zurich, Delft Technical University, and VU Amsterdam.

The business operates as a project-based commissioned practice with four revenue streams: (1) commissioned artworks for museums, cultural institutions, international organizations, and corporations; (2) exhibition and installation fees for traveling and permanent deployments; (3) keynote and speaking engagements at venues such as TED, UN COP, WEF, and corporate sustainability events; and (4) Woven Studio production services for fabrication using recycled 3D printing and sustainable materials. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set per project based on complexity, scale, data requirements, and exhibition duration. Distribution is direct-to-enterprise via relationship-driven sales into four primary segments: museums and cultural institutions, international organizations and policy forums, corporate sustainability partners (notably LVMH, Ruinart, Polestar), and cultural festivals. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led, relying on high-profile exhibitions, scientific collaborations, and earned media in outlets such as The Guardian, Wired, VICE, and BBC to generate downstream commission demand.

Name

Thijs Biersteker

Website

https://thijsbiersteker.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thijs Biersteker is a Netherlands-based ecological artist practice that builds data-driven art installations translating environmental and scientific research into immersive physical experiences for museums, international organizations, and corporate sustainability clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Art Installations

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Technical Production Management & Crew (MPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Data-driven art installations
• Eco art commissions
• Environmental data visualization
• Interactive science art
• Climate communication art

Headquarters

HQ city

Zaandam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Artworks: Thijs Biersteker creates commissioned art installations for museums, cultural institutions, corporations, and international organizations. Each artwork is uniquely developed in collaboration with the commissioning partner, involving significant R&D and often featuring proprietary data visualization systems. Works are typically one-off or limited edition installations with high production values.
2. Exhibition and Installation Fees: The studio charges fees for exhibiting existing works at museums, galleries, and festivals. This includes installation, technical support, and sometimes ongoing maintenance or data updates for data-driven pieces.
3. Speaking and Keynote Engagements: Biersteker generates revenue through keynote presentations at conferences including TED, UN events, World Economic Forum, and corporate sustainability events. These engagements often coincide with artwork exhibitions at the same venues.
4. Studio Operations (Woven Studio): Woven Studio handles production of artworks, including technical development, fabrication, and sustainable manufacturing. This commercial studio arm supports the artistic practice with revenue generated from production services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Thijs Biersteker is an ecological artist who creates commissioned data-driven art installations that translate complex environmental scientific research into immersive, sensor-based physical experiences. Each project is uniquely developed in collaboration with commissioning partners (museums, international organizations, corporate brands) and leading scientific institutions (UNESCO, WHO, Natural History Museum London, ESA, ETH Zurich, Delft Technical University), producing one-off works that integrate real-time environmental data, AI, kinetic systems, and sustainable materials. Production is handled through Woven Studio, with the Woven Foundation supporting the science-art communication mission.

Product overview

Thijs Biersteker is an ecological artist who creates data-driven art installations that translate complex environmental research into immersive experiences. His portfolio includes over 20 distinct installations addressing climate change, deforestation, pollution, biodiversity, and scientific phenomena. Key works include FORESTATE (real-time forest visualization at WEF 2026), Econario (biodiversity prediction sculpture), Memories of the Melted (glacier data visualization), Econtinuum (tree communication AI), Fungal Faculty (AI-powered installation), Origin (cacao tree digital twin), and Xylemia (sap flow sensors). These works integrate sensors, satellite data, AI, and generative art to make environmental data tangible and emotionally impactful. Productions are created through Woven Studio with scientific partners including UNESCO, Natural History Museum London, ESA, WHO, and leading universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FORESTATE Five-metre-high real-time data-driven sculpture that visualizes global deforestation and reforestation through disappearing and reappearing leaves, each representing 100 square metres of forest change. Commissioned for WEF Davos 2026 in collaboration with UNESCO.
• Econtinuum Transparent root network sculpture using sensors and two eco-AI systems to mimic tree communication and symbiotic relationships in forests, generating real-time conversation based on environmental data from plant neurobiology research. Collaboration with Stefano Mancuso.
• Wither Digital rainforest installation where leaves turn transparent at the rate of Amazon deforestation, each flicker representing 128 square metres of rainforest loss based on UNESCO deforestation data. Exhibited at Barbican Centre, COP16 Cali, and World Government Summit Dubai.
• Memories of the Melted Interactive glacier data visualization using 131,900+ data points from glacier inventories and mass balance datasets, allowing visitors to navigate through glacier timeline and adjust temperature scenarios with hand gestures. Commissioned by Villars Institute.
• Econario 5.3-metre robotic plant sculpture that grows or declines based on Biodiversity Intactness Index predictions, visualizing how political choices made today impact biodiversity in 2050. Collaboration with Natural History Museum London.
• Xylemia Sculpture using LoRaWAN-enabled dendrometer sensors to reveal real-time sap flow within trees, capturing water and nutrient movement from roots to leaves. Commissioned by Ruinart.
• Voice of Nature Living tree installation with 12 sensors measuring pollution, photosynthesis, and growth patterns, translating 12,000+ data points into real-time tree rings displayed behind the tree. Collaboration with Delft Technical University.
• Gasp Air pollution visualization using sensors to detect PM2.5 particles and enlarges them 4000x, releasing them as visible oil drops in water to make invisible air pollution tangible. Collaboration with WHO.
• Fungal Faculty AI-powered installation combining recycled steel and 3D-printed fungal elements with depth sensor input, challenging human perception of intelligence hierarchy between artificial and biological intelligence. Collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
• Amazonium 6x6 metre interactive sculpture with rainforest-shaped fabric panels moving based on deforestation and reforestation data from the Amazon Basin. Collaboration with UNESCO and LVMH.
• MB>CO2 Data usage carbon footprint visualization showing hidden CO2 impact of internet activities including Zoom calls, Netflix streaming, NFT trading, and AI algorithms through puffs of CO2 in a biotope.
• Mequation 1.5 metre flipdot mirror installation calculating real-time probability of individual existence using an equation developed with astrophysicist Dr. Yamila Miguel, pulling live data from exoplanet archives and population counters. Commissioned by NWO and Leiden University.
• Origin Digital cacao tree installation connecting real-time sensor data from a tree in Indonesia (ICCRI) to a digital twin sculpture in China designed by Junya Ishigami, revealing the fragility of the food system through data-driven art.
• Dark Distortions Constellation of moving lenses that bend light like gravitational lensing of dark matter, created in collaboration with ESA cosmologist Henk Hoekstra inspired by the Euclid mission.
• Mind over Matter Brainwave-controlled spherical installation where collective EEG data keeps the world in balance; the world spins into chaos when viewers lose focus, demonstrating the power of collective attention. Collaboration with David Carson.
• Periscopista 120 square metre interactive mist cloud installation controlled by festival-goer data including video feeds, sound, and movement, giving back collected festival data in psychedelic visual form.
• The Cover That Judges You Interactive book cover using face recognition technology that unlocks only when viewer shows no judgmental expressions, commissioned by Art Directors Club Netherlands.

Quantifiable outcome

• Memories of the Melted shown to 250,000+ visitors at Montreux Jazz Festival 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability8 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple ongoing collaborations including FORESTATE (World Economic Forum 2026), Wither (deforestation data), Amazonium (Amazon protection), and Econario at COP15. UNESCO provides scientific validation of data and access to MAB programme research networks. Partnership enables artworks to reach heads of state at global forums.
• Natural History Museum LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific partner for Econario, providing Biodiversity Intactness Index data and PREDICTS database access (4.9 million data points from 100+ countries). Prof. Andy Purvis and Dr. Adriana De Palma serve as scientific leads. This collaboration enables data-driven biodiversity visualization.
• Stefano Mancuso (Plant Neurobiologist)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaborator on multiple works including Econtinuum, Symbiosia, and Mind over Matter. Mancuso, a renowned plant neurobiologist, provides scientific expertise on tree communication and plant intelligence, helping translate research into artistic experiences.
• Woven StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction studio for all artworks, specializing in sustainable manufacturing using recycled materials and 3D printing. Studio Director Sophie de Krom leads technical development and fabrication. Woven Studio is the operational arm of the artistic practice.
• Woven FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting NGOs and scientists in combining art and science to amplify impact in policy and public domains. Handles communication, education, and data visualization for projects. Commissioning partner for works including Mequation.
• Villars InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Memories of the Melted for the 2025 International Year of Glaciers' Preservation. The institute uses their nearby glacier as a demonstration site for science-art collaboration. Project premiered at Villars Summit before an audience of scientists and system-change leaders.
• Matthias Huss (Glaciologist)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss glaciologist leading Glacier Monitoring Switzerland (GLAMOS) at ETH Zurich. Collaborated on Memories of the Melted, contributing 131,900+ data points including glacier inventories and mass balance datasets. Provides scientific credibility and research access.
• Heidi Sevestre (Glaciologist)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench glaciologist recognized for bridging science, policy, and public awareness. Collaborated on Memories of the Melted, contributing critical insights into glacier dynamics and climate impacts from research in polar and Alpine regions.
• Delft Technical UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Voice of Nature and Econtinuum. Plantenna Research group provides sensor technology and plant communication research. University served as Artist in Residence host in 2018.
• Leiden University / SRONcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific partner for Mequation with Dr. Yamila Miguel (astrophysicist) who extended the Frank Drake equation into a unique formula. SRON (Netherlands Institute for Space Research) supports with astrophysical data archives. Commissioned by NWO and Leiden University.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO provides air quality data and PM2.5 particle research for Gasp installation. The artwork is built upon WHO resources indicating pollution levels and health impacts. WHO team includes Heather Adair-Rohani, Sophie Gumy, and others.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA collaboration on Dark Distortions, inspired by the Euclid mission to study dark matter and dark energy. Cosmologist Henk Hoekstra of Leiden University serves as scientific advisor, coordinating with ESA's cosmology program.
• RuinartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampagne house commissioned Xylemia for their Artists' Garden (2024, Carte Blanche). Partnership includes dendrometer sensor project monitoring vineyard growth in real-time. Xylemia installed permanently at Jardin des Artistes Ruinart.
• LVMHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury conglomerate supports Amazonium project alongside UNESCO MAB programme. LVMH's involvement connects to their biodiversity commitments and Amazon preservation initiatives. Partnership includes访问 protected Amazon sites.
• PolestarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive brand collaborated on We Harvest Wind (2021, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam) and Gasp project. Polestar sustainability events feature Biersteker keynotes. Partnership aligns with Polestar's environmental mission.
• ICCRI (Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institution provides real-time sensor data from cacao trees at their Java plantation for Origin artwork. ICCRI works under CGIAR global agriculture network, contributing to climate-resilient cocoa systems research.
• Junya Ishigami (Architect)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcclaimed architect designed the Zaishui Art Museum in China where Origin is permanently installed. Collaboration creates a shared space where data, body, and climate meet within Ishigami's architecture that blurs boundaries with landscape.
• Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVU Amsterdam commissioned Fungal Faculty and hosts the artwork. Computational Intelligence Group, led by Prof. Dr. A.E. Eiben, developed the AI system. Inspired by Broader Mind course at the university.
• Science Gallery DublincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibition venue for Dark Distortions (2020) and Shaded Seas (touring Ireland 2020). Gallery's focus on art-science intersection aligns with Biersteker's practice. ESA Ireland featured the dark matter collaboration.
• Bailuwan Town / Zaishui Art MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese commissioning entity for Origin artwork, with Qianhui Xu as commissioner lead. Museum designed by Junya Ishigami provides permanent exhibition space for the digital cacao tree installation.
• World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned FORESTATE for Davos 2026. Biersteker serves as Cultural Leader at WEF. Arts and Culture programme curator Joseph Fowler oversaw the commission. The artwork is placed at the center of one of the world's most data-driven decision-making environments.
• David Carson (Designer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegendary graphic designer collaborated on Mind over Matter (2018), marking his first interactive artwork in his long career. Carson's collage art style was animated using randomized algorithms driven by brainwave data.
• NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch research funding organization commissioned Mequation alongside Woven Foundation and Leiden University. NWO support enables collaboration between artists and scientists.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• United Visual Artists (UVA): London-based practice creating data-driven kinetic sculptures and immersive installations for museums, brands, and public spaces. Strongly comparable in combining real-time data, sensors, and kinetic systems into installable artwork for similar premium client segments.
• Marshmallow Laser Feast: Artist collective creating immersive, nature- and science-themed experiences (e.g., In the Eyes of the Animal, Evolver). Direct peer in the immersive-art-for-nature-and-science communication niche, often shown at cultural festivals and institutions.
• Jenny Holzer: Single-name artist working with text, light, and data projected into public and institutional spaces. Comparable in the premium solo-artist model with museum and public-institution commissions that translate information into emotional/physical experiences.
• Olafur Eliasson: Individual ecological/environmental artist famous for large-scale installations on climate, glaciers, and sustainability (e.g., Ice Watch). Comparable as a globally touring single-name artist with strong institutional and scientific partnerships and museum-anchored commissions.
• Random International: London-based studio known for Rain Room and other interactive, sensor-driven installations. Comparable in producing large-format, technology-embedded experiential art exhibited at top museums and luxury brand venues.
• Studio Drift: Dutch artist duo creating large-scale, data- and technology-driven kinetic installations exhibited at major museums and biennales. Closest structural analog: Netherlands-based, science-meets-art practice, comparable client mix of museums and luxury brands, and similar headcount scale.

Emerging players

• Refik Anadol: Media artist working with AI, data, and machine learning to produce large-scale immersive installations and sculptures. Comparable in the AI/data-driven art niche and in securing premium museum and brand commissions, though more design/abstract than Biersteker's science-communication focus.
• Neri Oxman / MIT Media Lab art-science projects: Art-science research practice at MIT producing nature- and biology-inspired installations using computational design and novel materials. Comparable in being a science-art crossover with museum-grade commissions and high-profile academic/brand partners, though more academic-anchored.
• Es Devlin Studio: London-based studio designing large-scale data-driven installations and stage sculptures for museums, COP-style summits, and luxury brands. Comparable in client mix (UN forums, luxury, cultural institutions) and in fusing data/environment with high-end installation design.

Broad incumbents

• teamLab: Japanese interdisciplinary art collective producing immersive, data-driven digital installations with permanent venues worldwide. Larger, more commercialized, and more entertainment-leaning than Biersteker, but comparable in combining art with technology to drive large-scale visitor experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/thijsbiersteker
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thijs-biersteker

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Thijs Biersteker