PMieke Mens is a painter and printmaker living and working in Amsterdam

About painting

The poetic paintings of Mieke Mens are layered and lived through, they show a search that is accompanied by doubt and rejection but also playfulness and humor.

She herself says: "When out of the excitement and frustration during the painting process suddenly an image arises that touches me, the delicate process of deciding what parts will stay or not begins. Then the work gradually receives light and oxygen, it comes into being".

Sya van ‘t Vlie, art historian

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About printmaking

After twelve years of professional pixel-perfect screen printing in sometimes large runs, I now embrace the happy accident, the (im)perfection of the misprint, and stick to unique or very limited editions.

My art studio is equipped for screen printing, relief printing and intaglio printing. This, along with painting, collage, drawing and bookmaking, allows for endless combinations of techniques. The ultimate playground!

Mieke Mens

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Heerlen (1953)

Education
1971-1975 — Stadsacademie Maastricht
1977-1981 — Gerrit Rietveld Academie Amsterdam

Work
1981-2000 — Art studio
2000-2012 — Screen printing studio De Kunstzeefdrukkerij
2012-2024 — Print and web design studio De Kunstzee
from 2024 — Art studio

Artwork is included in public and private collections

In my art studio in Amsterdam I make paintings on panel and canvas, prints, work on paper, collages and digital graphics.

I enjoyed running a screen printing company for twelve years and designing special printed matter, books and custom websites for another twelve years.
In 2024 I stopped taking assignments so I can make my way back to fully focus on making art.

When I'm not working on projects, I'm pampering the terrace garden, visiting an exhibition, learning new skills, working on dream projects or doing my daily tai-chi in the park.

Fascination came early on reading the Donald Duck with a folding magnifying glass, endless Lego sessions, shadows à la film noir, rubber stamps, identifying everything that grows, blooms and lives in a tree, meadow or pool close to my house.

In my current work, I find inspiration in the (im)perfection of damaged found objects, in nature and architecture, music and poetry, and I love the studio conversations with dear friends and colleagues.