Erna Kuik (she/her), 1967, Zuidelijke IJsselmeerpolders, based in Steenderen.

Erna graduated from Artez Kampen in 1992, receiving the prestigious Gretha and Adri Pieck Prize, an award recognizing young artistic talent. Her transformative experience studying in Ireland in 1991 was marked by the awe-inspiring landscapes of the sea, islands, and wilderness, deepening her connection with nature and igniting her quest to find innovative ways to reconnect with it. Erna took the initiative to showcase her work, participating in exhibitions both in the Netherlands and internationally, often featuring her art at Art Amsterdam Spui—a creative and forward-thinking approach to introduce her work to a broad, both national and international audience. Erna is passionate about connecting with people and their stories, making her artistic journey a unique fusion of talent and human connection. Throughout her career, Erna made portraits in photography, often in outdoor locations that she felt added a unique, personal dimension to each individual.

Erna creates artworks using a variety of techniques and materials. Her pieces come to life through the transformation of handmade paper, crafted from old magazines and enhanced with collages. Additionally, she employs the methods of woodcut and linocut, both forms of relief printing, as well as painting and photography to give shape to my artistic vision.

Through the medium of linocuts and paintings/ mixed media she aims to invite viewers into a sensory experience where words and images intertwine, igniting a profound connection between the mind and the physical world. She is a firm believer in the transformative power of art, using it to spark awareness, provoke introspection, and inspire positive action. As an artist, she carries a deep conviction that it is our responsibility, as part of the natural world, to nurture and protect the environment that sustains us.