Artist • Expat • Traveler
Leaving the Netherlands was a breeze. Japan didn’t scare me, America didn’t intimidate and Canada is as easy-going as it gets. The thing that frightens me, is creating Art.
For the longest time, I believed I was the master of my craft. I strode into my studio with confidence to create bodies of work like Traveling the World and World on Washi. In my bubble, I reigned supreme.
Then, one day I realized that the spaces I thought I controlled were fortified by the perceived expectations of the people around me. Their silent influence spawned countless rules, suffocating the artist within.
It dawned on me—I shouldn't be making the rules at all.
I have been creating Art for a decade and a half, and right now my studio in Canada is the most terrifying and exhilarating place to be. Inside, the Art decides the destination, where it leads I will follow.
An old man once told me: “It’s dangerous to go alone!” So, will you join me on this quest? Together we will explore ‘Unveiling’ a boundless realm of vibrant hues and delicate textures.
Step into my world, explore my art, and meet the versions of myself I once knew.
Let's embark on an adventure of discovery.
“where the truth leads, I will follow.”
I’m on an ongoing quest to find my authentic self.
1️⃣ I was born in Amsterdam
2️⃣ I have lived in Fort Worth, TX, USA, Montréal, Canada and Nagoya, Japan
3️⃣ I love playing board games
4️⃣ I obsessively take photographs everywhere I go
5️⃣ Creating Art demands every ounce of courage I possess.
Why?
My adopted identities have been a veil adorning the face I put out to the world. I painted with structures, textures and colors defined by the worlds I immersed myself in.
Living in four different countries over the past 15 years presented opportunities for reinvention. The chameleon within me tried to assimilate into every new home, with the places I lived becoming synonymous with my sense of self.
Every departure from those homes felt like shedding a part of myself. My core, beneath the veil, didn't want to let go. The need to anchor my adopted identity compelled me to capture those shredded pieces in projects like Traveling the World and World on Washi.
Painful as it is to admit, my path as an artist hasn't been entirely my own. It has been nudged by perceived expectations and shaped by a need to please others
The urge to create is unequivocally mine— it comes from the core. That I know. Each piece I create originates from a whirlwind of ideas and a burning impatience to bring it to life.
Influenced by the opinions of others I kept a tight rein on my creativity for decades, telling the artist inside to conform to the rules for fear of breaking them. All the while secretly yearning to splash bold colors and textures across the canvas.
Now I have given myself permission to excavate the layers of my adopted identities, Unveiling the artist at its core.
Lacking a firm sense of identity, painting with authenticity requires every ounce of courage I possess but I am determined to continue this journey.
Walking a new path, my steps become more confident with each stride. My authentic core starts to stir, a flicker on its way to becoming a bonfire.
Short Artist CV
Upcoming Exhibitions
2024 - June/July Solo Exhibition - Latitude 44 Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Recent Exhibitions
2024 - April 7 - 10 - Art Expo New York - Pier 36, New York, United States.
2023 - Art Basel Miami (Spectrum) - Mana Wynwood, Miami, United States.
2023 - Artist Project - Better Living Center, Toronto, Canada.
2023 - Art Expo New York - Pier 36, New York, United States.
2022 - Memories of Japan - Latitude 44 Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2022 - IDS Vancouver 2022, Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada.
2022 - ‘The Artist Project 2022', Queen Elizabeth Building, Toronto, Canada.
2022 - IDS Toronto 2022, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto Canada.
2022 - Plus One Exhibition, Leslie Grove Gallery, Toronto,Canada
2021 - ‘Toronto Outdoor Art Fair’ (TOAF)’.
2021 - Travel Diaries, Viva Vida Art Gallery, Montréal, Canada.
Awards
2018 - Foreign Minister Award. | Pictures >>
2017 - Foreign Artists Exhibition best in show award| Pictures >>
Selected Media Coverage
2022 - Auntie Lanette Show podcast
2020 - CTV Montréal
2019 - Interview, Radio Station Mino no wa, Mino, Japan.
2019 - CTV Montréal
2018 - UNESCO x BBuzzArt Medium.com article.
2018 - Interview, Cités Nouvelles.
2016 - VPR Radio.
2016 - Global TV.
2014 - The West Island Chronicle.
2013 - Art show review, Scandalmagazine.com.
2011 - Interview, CTV News.
Unveiling.
My abstract mixed media paintings serve as a conduit to bring forth my authentic core. In today's world, where our lives often feel like a constant performance, maintaining a true sense of identity can be a challenge. Amidst the daily deluge of social media, this struggle is all too familiar for a chronic people pleaser like myself. But, while I grappled to find my core identity, I found that the artist within me already held the answer.
“Unveiling" is an ongoing exploration, delving into the realm of subtle textures and luminous effects achieved by layering different viscosities and translucencies of acrylic paints. I merge these with materials such as washi paper, oil pastels, sand, and alcohol to create depth and intrigue.
Every creation begins with a single color, shaped organically by water and alcohol. With a light hand I guide each layer, enhancing and pushing back where needed, coaxing out a glow that seems to emanate from within—a reflection of my soul captured in Art.
Traveling the World.
In my ongoing body of work ‘Traveling the World, I combine my love of photography, painting and travel, creating condensed memories of my travels. Pulling elements from different locations in a city, I merge various photographs into a singular image. The physical layering of multiple acrylic transfers in combination with textured papers and acrylic paints on wood panels, results in powerful, graphic pieces that are at once contemporary and nostalgic.
Each piece in this series is like a moment frozen in time, telling an intimate story of my experience with the city and the people that populate it. Celebrating the unique architectural elements and highlighting its mundane, often overlooked, urban elements. My often equivocal titles provide a glimpse into my mind and the stories I imagined while creating the piece. A minimal use of colour helps the eye travel through the composition, adding to the story.
World on Washi
My on-going series ‘World on Washi’ is inspired by my three year stay in Japan. While there I was fascinated by all the traditional techniques and beautiful materials Japan has to offer and I made an effort to experience as many of them as I could. I fell in love with Washi (Japanese paper) and this, combined with a new found appreciation for Japanese minimalist esthetics, compelled me to blend my modern, image transfer techniques with traditional Japanese imagery and materials. Resulting in exquisitely vibrant pieces that highlight the beauty and delicacy of the Japanese paper and the alluring nature of their culture.
I miss the beauty of life in Japan every day, including Japanese techniques and materials in my work makes me feel more connected to this magical country. Each piece in this series is a celebration of the elegance and artistry that you experience in Japan on a daily basis. Like a moment frozen in time, these pieces tell an intimate story and show you little glimpses of my experiences living there. Leaving great portions of the sheet blank highlights the exquisite delicacy of the washi and gives the subject an unusual focus. My often equivocal titles provide a glimpse into my mind and the stories I remembered while creating the piece.
