Marlien Venema

I create brightly colored landscapes in which I explore a sense of adventure, freedom and paradise. By portraying often solitary figures, I try to express the need for independence. In a search for utopian worlds, my work navigates between romantic longings for times gone by, depicting rebellious eccentrics and moments of the detached sublime.

I usually start my work by making collages of found photos and photos from my private archive. The use of photo negatives enhances the feeling of nostalgia, but also creates abstraction and detachment. One of the striking features of my work is my use of colour. I was gifted this sense of color by my mother, who works with textiles. I will also often use fabric expression, texture layers, contrasts and patterns as a reflection of my heritage. Apart from my need for autonomy this gives my work a very personal and homely touch.

1996 / Willem de Kooning (Art Academy Rotterdam) / Graphic Design
2008 / KABK (Royal Academy The Hague) / Fine Arts

Kunsteiland (Zaandam/NL): 11+12 September 2022
Tekenkabinet Xtra/Galerie with Tjsalling (Groningen/NL): 17-21 August 2022
Zomersalon CBK ZuidOost (amsterdam/NL): June-August 2022
Tekenkabinet (Amsterdam/NL): July/August 2022
KunstRAI (Amsterdam/NL) – 13 t/m 18 april 2022
Art Zaandstad (Zaandam/NL): February 2022
Art The Hague (The Hague/NL): 29 september 2021
Popinnart members show (Amsterdam/NL): 11 september 2021
Zaanse Zomersalon (Zaandam/NL) – June/ August 2021
T*ART member show (Zaandam/NL)– 27 augustus 2021
Popinnart member show (Amsterdam/NL) – May 2020
T*ART – 2 november 2019
Open studio Honig Fabriek (Zaandam/NL) – najaar 2019
Art The Hague (The Hague/NL) – 4 t/m 6 oktober 2019
Zaanse Zomersalon (Zaandam/NL) – 3 juli 2019
Popinnart member show (Amsterdam/NL) 12 september 2019
Jubileum Tentoonstelling Tengel 25 – 26 januari 2019
Onderweg – Loods 6 interdisciplinaire exhibition with art and tango 21 – 23 september 2018
Popinnart – Middenweg 1 juli – 31 oktober 2018
T*ART Ledententoonstelling Tengel 6-7 oktober 2018
Zaanse Zomersalon (Filmfabriek Zaandam) – 1 t/m 31 juli 2018
Impuls Kunstmanifestatie Alkmaar – 21 en 22 mei 2018
Open atelier Broedplaats Honigfabriek – 12 en 13 april 2018
Wild Kamperen ...