Stella

My name is Stella van den Eertwegh, a visual artist based in Amsterdam. After studying at the Rietveld Academie, I moved to Art and Education, seeking a more balanced approach between concept and visual appeal. It was at the Biennale during my first year that I realized great art is both visually compelling and conceptually rich.

My artistic birth, however, came later, after my father’s passing, a pivotal moment that affirmed how essential the act of making is for me. Since then, I have embraced my practice fully, exploring painting and experimental, tactile forms using materials like glue, pigment, lids, string etc., as well as oil and acrylic paint.

My work often drifts between abstraction and figuration, beginning from a theme, memory, or image; sometimes inspired by a book, sensation, or an indefinable impulse. I’m drawn to universal human experiences: our closeness to death, longing for transcendence, nature’s connection, and ways of sensing the unseen. In a world focused on difference, I try to seek what binds us together.

Art, for me, is a way to return to the body and the present moment. It grounds me, inspires playfulness, and offers new perspectives, serving as both research and revelation. As a young artist, building honest dialogue and learning from others is essential to my growth. Through Arte Laguna, I look forward to forging new connections, across artists, disciplines, and perspectives.