about NL | EN
Esther Koeman is a multimedia artist. Her conceptual work, which combines photography, mixed media and installations, captures the transience of life. Using recognisable materials, she creates enduring artworks that reflect the paradox of mutability and immutability. What seems obvious today can be very different tomorrow. Her art tells stories of connection from a feminist perspective, often in a sensitive, philosophical and poetic way.
Esther Koeman obtained her BA in Art Culture and Design from the Breitner Academy, Fashion at Rietveld Academy and has a Post BA in Digital Media. After a career in fashion and graphic design, she returned to art in 2019. She has been working as a sculptor for seven years. In addition, Koeman is the owner of Studio Smeltkroes, a teacher and a speaker. She also coordinates and curates various group exhibitions, including the exhibition at Vishal Haarlem 'Sensitive Values'. Her work was featured at Nieuw Dacota, Museum Kranenburgh and Museum De Fundatie.
artis statement
I see life as a recurring pattern made up of experiences, the passing down of customs and traditions, and personal interests. Events can bring twists and turns, just as waves in the sea can stir things up or calm them down. They follow one another, always in a slightly different form, adding a twist to the course of life. Through personal changes, I have learned that changes turn out to be unchanging. You can break habits, a new normal emerges, but over time, those too are broken again.
This wave-like movement is also evident in my work. I explore changes in relation to place, language, and time. I translate this into concepts. In doing so, I am constantly amazed by the traces humans leave behind. I find inspiration particularly in objects that have been discarded or left behind carelessly. What stories lie behind them? I do not limit myself to a single medium, but let the concept determine the technique, with the aim of presenting new perspectives on how we find our balance in an unpredictable world.
Esther Koeman is a multimedia artist. Her conceptual work, which combines photography, mixed media and installations, captures the transience of life. Using recognisable materials, she creates enduring artworks that reflect the paradox of mutability and immutability. What seems obvious today can be very different tomorrow. Her art tells stories of connection from a feminist perspective, often in a sensitive, philosophical and poetic way.
Esther Koeman obtained her BA in Art Culture and Design from the Breitner Academy, Fashion at Rietveld Academy and has a Post BA in Digital Media. After a career in fashion and graphic design, she returned to art in 2019. She has been working as a sculptor for seven years. In addition, Koeman is the owner of Studio Smeltkroes, a teacher and a speaker. She also coordinates and curates various group exhibitions, including the exhibition at Vishal Haarlem 'Sensitive Values'. Her work was featured at Nieuw Dacota, Museum Kranenburgh and Museum De Fundatie.
artis statement
I see life as a recurring pattern made up of experiences, the passing down of customs and traditions, and personal interests. Events can bring twists and turns, just as waves in the sea can stir things up or calm them down. They follow one another, always in a slightly different form, adding a twist to the course of life. Through personal changes, I have learned that changes turn out to be unchanging. You can break habits, a new normal emerges, but over time, those too are broken again.
This wave-like movement is also evident in my work. I explore changes in relation to place, language, and time. I translate this into concepts. In doing so, I am constantly amazed by the traces humans leave behind. I find inspiration particularly in objects that have been discarded or left behind carelessly. What stories lie behind them? I do not limit myself to a single medium, but let the concept determine the technique, with the aim of presenting new perspectives on how we find our balance in an unpredictable world.
exhibitions | selected
De Vishal, Haarlem
Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen
De Heemtuin, Leiderdorp
Light Festival, Alkmaar
Boterhal, Hoorn
Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle
Nieuw Dakota, Amsterdam
De Balie, Amsterdam
Bagsmuseum, Amsterdam
Kunsthal 45, Den Helder
Francis Boeske Projects, Amsterdam
art curator
Sensitive Values, De Vishal, Haarlem
KCB exhibitions; Metamorfose, Het Sleutelwerk 1 + 2, Driftig Landschap, Salon voor nieuwe Leden, Contrasten, Grenzeloos, Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen
coordinator
now - Owner, STUDIO SMELTKROES
Board member, De Alkenhorst
Coordinator Art Exhibition Committee KCB
Board member, KCB, museum Kranenburgh
Coordinator children's editorial team
Art Director, Libelle, Sanoma
books
Bron | Catalogus Tengel
Klimaatexpo 22 | Museum de Fundatie
Mijn vrijheid jouw vrijheid | Tengel
Artist talk | Boterhal
Wild camping | Kunsthal 45
media
2023 Cultuur Buur
2021 NOS - Scheringa museum
2021 BeatFM
2020 RTV 80 18/12
De Vishal, Haarlem
Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen
De Heemtuin, Leiderdorp
Light Festival, Alkmaar
Boterhal, Hoorn
Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle
Nieuw Dakota, Amsterdam
De Balie, Amsterdam
Bagsmuseum, Amsterdam
Kunsthal 45, Den Helder
Francis Boeske Projects, Amsterdam
art curator
Sensitive Values, De Vishal, Haarlem
KCB exhibitions; Metamorfose, Het Sleutelwerk 1 + 2, Driftig Landschap, Salon voor nieuwe Leden, Contrasten, Grenzeloos, Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen
coordinator
now - Owner, STUDIO SMELTKROES
Board member, De Alkenhorst
Coordinator Art Exhibition Committee KCB
Board member, KCB, museum Kranenburgh
Coordinator children's editorial team
Art Director, Libelle, Sanoma
books
Bron | Catalogus Tengel
Klimaatexpo 22 | Museum de Fundatie
Mijn vrijheid jouw vrijheid | Tengel
Artist talk | Boterhal
Wild camping | Kunsthal 45
media
2023 Cultuur Buur
2021 NOS - Scheringa museum
2021 BeatFM
2020 RTV 80 18/12
publications
2025 De Lakenhal
2024 Cultuurkartel | Karavaan
2024 Trendbeheer | Alex de Vries
2024 Haarlems Dagblad
2024 Kunstlijn Haarlem
2023 NHD
2022 De Fundatie
2022 Kasteel Nijenhuis
2022 KeK
2022 Hoorns Dagblad
2022 Noord Hollands Dagblad
2022 BOKnet
2021 Alkmaars Dagblad
2020 Nieuw Dakota
2020 Lens Culture
2020 NHD
2019 Kunst en museumkrant
residences
11-07 - 22.08.2025 Japan
03.05 - 11.05.2024 Madeira
31.07 - 22.08.2023 Cuba
02.08 - 28.08.2020 Wales
28.07 - 19.08.2019 Vietnam
03.1998 - 05.1999 Espinho, Portugal
10.1997 - 02.1998 Abdul Hakim, Pakistan
collaborations
Larissa Neslo, curation expo
Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen
Vishal, Haarlem Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar
Artiance, Alkmaar
Jasper Vonsee, proposal expo
K. Oosterbaan, Galerie de Kapberg, performance
Ivon Spee, wall art, Woekerwanden
2025 De Lakenhal
2024 Cultuurkartel | Karavaan
2024 Trendbeheer | Alex de Vries
2024 Haarlems Dagblad
2024 Kunstlijn Haarlem
2023 NHD
2022 De Fundatie
2022 Kasteel Nijenhuis
2022 KeK
2022 Hoorns Dagblad
2022 Noord Hollands Dagblad
2022 BOKnet
2021 Alkmaars Dagblad
2020 Nieuw Dakota
2020 Lens Culture
2020 NHD
2019 Kunst en museumkrant
residences
11-07 - 22.08.2025 Japan
03.05 - 11.05.2024 Madeira
31.07 - 22.08.2023 Cuba
02.08 - 28.08.2020 Wales
28.07 - 19.08.2019 Vietnam
03.1998 - 05.1999 Espinho, Portugal
10.1997 - 02.1998 Abdul Hakim, Pakistan
collaborations
Larissa Neslo, curation expo
Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen
Vishal, Haarlem Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar
Artiance, Alkmaar
Jasper Vonsee, proposal expo
K. Oosterbaan, Galerie de Kapberg, performance
Ivon Spee, wall art, Woekerwanden
design
Graphic design/communication, DPG MEDIA, NAP design, REBRAND et al.
Fashion design, OILILY, ESPRIT et al.
art coaching
STUDIO SMELTKROES, Alkmaar
Nieuwe Beeldmakers, Alkmaar
Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar
Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen
1st degree Tutor Art/Culture/Design at multiple institutions
public speaker
De Vishal, Haarlem
Vrije Kunst ’83, Bergen
Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen
NoLost, Utrecht
IL Office, Amsterdam
Galerie De Kapberg, Egmond
education
2017 Breitner Academy (BA), Amsterdam
2001 Kreft New Media | Graphic Web design (Post BA) Amsterdam
1995 Gerrit Rietveld Academy | Fashion design (BA) Amsterdam
1994 DETEX | Haarlem
courses
2024 Digital Transformation in cultural sector | DEN Academy
2024 Training court culture and history | Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
2023 Change management | NHA
2022 Group dynamics | van Kraay
2018 Art and Culture | Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
2013 Writing for multy media | ABC
2012 Management and communication | Sanoma | Bergen
2010 Branding | Sanoma | Hoofddorp
CV
Linked In
Graphic design/communication, DPG MEDIA, NAP design, REBRAND et al.
Fashion design, OILILY, ESPRIT et al.
art coaching
STUDIO SMELTKROES, Alkmaar
Nieuwe Beeldmakers, Alkmaar
Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar
Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen
1st degree Tutor Art/Culture/Design at multiple institutions
public speaker
De Vishal, Haarlem
Vrije Kunst ’83, Bergen
Museum Kranenburgh, Bergen
NoLost, Utrecht
IL Office, Amsterdam
Galerie De Kapberg, Egmond
education
2017 Breitner Academy (BA), Amsterdam
2001 Kreft New Media | Graphic Web design (Post BA) Amsterdam
1995 Gerrit Rietveld Academy | Fashion design (BA) Amsterdam
1994 DETEX | Haarlem
courses
2024 Digital Transformation in cultural sector | DEN Academy
2024 Training court culture and history | Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
2023 Change management | NHA
2022 Group dynamics | van Kraay
2018 Art and Culture | Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
2013 Writing for multy media | ABC
2012 Management and communication | Sanoma | Bergen
2010 Branding | Sanoma | Hoofddorp
CV
Linked In
