Lydia
Kriek

Lydia Kriek, an Amsterdam-based textile artist, mother of 6 and grandmother of 2, found her artistic voice during a period of profound personal challenge when her husband fell ill. Self-taught, her practice became a powerful outlet for processing and expressing deep-seated emotions.
Kriek's work primarily revolves around the tactile and comforting qualities of textile art. She predominantly utilizes handmade felt, repurposing discarded glass vases as her canvases. This choice not only imbues her creations with a unique texture but also speaks to themes of transformation, upcycling and renewal.
Through her art, Kriek seeks to convey a sense of comfort and protection. Her pieces invite touch, their soft, felted surfaces offering a tangible sense of solace. Yet, beneath this initial impression, her work often holds an element of playful ambiguity, challenging the viewer's perception and hinting that things are not always as they seem. This interplay between the overt and the subtle is a hallmark of her artistic vision.