My story

I’m a Dutch painter, mixed-media artist, and spatial designer whose career bridges art, urban design, and public engagement. My artistic journey began after graduating from the Utrecht School of the Arts, where I specialised in Spatial Design. My first adventure as an artist took me to Cancún’s Mexico Mágico theme park, where I worked as a muralist and discovered the transformative power of colour and painting in shaping spaces and stories.

Back in the Netherlands, I spent the next 25+ years immersed in spatial design, focusing on urban planning and revitalising public spaces. During this time, I also became a mother, balancing family life with my professional work. As co-founder of Islant atelier, my design studio, I led projects that emphasised citizen participation and co-creation, aiming to strengthen “dear places” - sites of collective memory that give meaning to our urban landscapes. Alongside my work as an urban designer, I took on applied art projects, worked as a cultural producer, and initiated grassroots urban initiatives.

Throughout these years, I continued painting, though not as consistently as I wanted. In 2020, I made the conscious decision to shift my focus back to the arts, restarting my professional painting practice. My background in spatial design and urban planning has shaped the way I observe and depict the world. It taught me to read the city not just as a collection of buildings, but as a stage for human behaviour, shaped by invisible systems and emotional undercurrents. In both disciplines, I’m driven by the same question: how do people relate to the spaces they inhabit? My paintings aim to capture not just what a space looks like, but how it feels, how it shapes us, and how we shape it in return. Each work is an attempt to distill that experience: that one person, in that one place, at that one moment in time.

Since returning to painting, my work has been exhibited in the Netherlands and internationally. Highlights include solo exhibitions, features in The Huts Magazine and Art Seen Magazine, and participation in the International Artes Exhibition in Turin, where I won third prize in the figurative painting section. I’ve also been part of the Every Woman Biennial 2024 in New York and was selected twice as a finalist for the Women United Art Prize. My work is represented in directories such as the Women United Art Movement and the Create! Collective.

My work reflects my passion for exploring the world around me and my commitment to capturing the beauty and complexity of the human experience. Inspired by the Dutch painters of the 17th century, whose techniques deeply influence my practice, I am drawn to the rich tapestry of daily urban life. The people, places, and fleeting moments of the city are a constant source of inspiration. With each piece, I mindfully engage with these elements to create visual narratives that resonate on both personal and collective levels.

In my paintings I merge the timeless techniques of the Old Dutch Masters with a contemporary perspective and an expressive, interpretive colour palette. I combine traditional oil painting with contemporary techniques like collage and photography. This fusion allows me to explore themes that define and challenge our 21st-century societies - such as loneliness, migration, inequality, and our relationship with nature. My aim is to draw viewers into the scene, evoking a sense of presence and emotional connection. Through my art, I hope to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the intricate connections that shape our world.

Sustainability is a cornerstone of my artistic practice. I am committed to exploring circular methods and materials, integrating reused and sustainable resources whenever possible. Currently, I mostly work on cardboard boxes and small panels crafted from reclaimed wood sourced from old buildings. This approach not only adds a narrative and tactile dimension to my work but also reflects my dedication to environmentally responsible artmaking. By intertwining tradition with sustainability, I strive to create works that are both timeless and conscious of the future.