Writings
Artist Statement
After more than 30 years of oil painting, specializing in portraiture, I grew increasingly unsatisfied with capturing individuality, as if my subjects’ truths remained just out of reach. Circumstances inspired me to transition to figurative sculpting in 2021, a shift that allowed me to build on my experience with portrayals while breaking free from patterns associated with painting. Moving from two dimensions to three unleashed a new wave of creativity and vision. Sculpture’s tactile nature enables me to better express insights and emotions, resulting in works imbued with more movement and feeling.
In sculpting, I strive to uncover the essence of humanity beyond ego, belief systems, and societal facades. Using oil-based clay, I craft unclothed figures that transcend time and culture, revealing stories of pain, vulnerability, and connection. Each piece undergoes a unique journey through the firing process, with cracks and warping embodying its individuality. Informed by my multicultural upbringing, travels, and social work, my sculptures reflect the imperfect, transformative beauty of human experience, offering hope and moments of introspection in a chaotic world.
Bio
Born in Uganda in 1975 to Dutch parents working with leprosy patients, my life has been shaped by global nomadism and a quest to understand humanity beyond cultural and societal facades. Growing up across Ethiopia, the U.S., and the Netherlands exposed me to diverse perspectives but also deep internal conflicts, particularly during a formative period in a conservative Christian environment.
Art became my refuge at age 12, allowing me to process cultural shocks and personal struggles, especially through self-portraits. Extensive travels in my teens and twenties, from Israel to New Zealand, reinforced art’s universal power to connect and inspire. Though largely self-taught, I briefly attended the Royal Academy in The Hague before pursuing my own artistic path, specializing in portraiture and, later, sculpture.
From 2008 to 2018, my work in social services profoundly shaped my understanding of the human condition, while studies in sports and integrative massage deepened my appreciation for the human form. These experiences infused my art with greater sensitivity and depth.
Sculpture, which I embraced in recent years, has become my primary medium, breaking old limitations and enabling a richer exploration of the human experience. Currently, I live a nomadic life with my husband, Shaun, and am preparing to establish a permanent home and studio by 2024, focusing on a new chapter of artistic creation.
