"Grandiose is a word that still accurately characterizes Van Vliet’s most celebrated arrangements. The Dutch florist, now in his forties, is best known as the man behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s famous (and immense) sprays of flowers. For almost 20 years, he’s finessed all manner of verdure—from quince branches dripping with heavy pink blossoms to craning, chartreuse palm fronds—into five stately urns in the museum’s entryway, known as the Great Hall." Artsy

With the full Vincent van Gogh collection currently on view at the MET until February 15th, 2019, and the special exhibition “In Praise of Painting: Dutch Masterpieces at The Met” with Dutch masters like Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York already has a strong Dutch presence. Nevertheless, while walking through the museum, there might be some works of art that have Dutch origins which fewer people might be aware of: the spectacular floral arrangements of the museum are courtesy of Dutch florist Remco van Vliet.

Artsy recently caught up with the florist, which you can read about here.

"When he wasn’t in the shop, Van Vliet immersed himself in art. (His grandfather, who’d painted and collected art on the side, had rubbed off on his grandson in this way, too.) In school, he learned painting, etching, watercolors, welding, and art history; he remembers at least two works from the Met’s collection showing up on his final exams." Artsy