about

Esther Koeman is a multimedia artist who obtained her Bachelor of Arts at the Rietveld Academy (fashion), followed by a Post-BA in Digital Media and first degree in Art, Culture and Design Education at the Breitner Academy. After a period working in fashion and graphic design, she returned to autonomous art, where her multidisciplinary background forms a solid foundation for her current practice. In addition to her work as an artist. Koeman is the owner of Studio Smeltkroes, where she develops projects at the intersection of art, education, and reflection. Her role as an artist extends beyond her own artistic production: Koeman coordinates and curates group exhibitions in which she brings artists together around shared themes. One of her projects is the exhibition “Sensitive Value” at De Vishal in Haarlem. Her work has been shown in various exhibitions and institutions, including Nieuw Dakota, De Vishal, Museum Kranenburgh and Museum De Fundatie. In these diverse contexts, Koeman shows a different facet of her artistry each time, but her core remains present: the search for moments in which space, time and human experience intersect.

artist statement

As a multimedia artist, my work explores the intersections between space, time and language. I do not use fixed materials or forms; concepts determine the medium. Photography, mixed media, digital techniques and installations merge seamlessly, giving each project its own visual and material logic. What my work has in common is a constant focus on transience: the realisation that everything is in motion, even when it seems to stand still. I use recognisable, everyday materials that I transform into lasting works of art. These choices reveal a recurring paradox: materials that we associate with the temporary, such as textiles, paper or organic forms, become, through my work, carriers of something permanent. In this way, I capture the shifts between changeability and constant presence; what seems self-evident today may be significantly different tomorrow. This theme often takes on a form that is both philosophical and poetic. It invites the viewer to slow down and contemplate. My work often has a gentle, exploratory tone, but at the same time is powerful in its underlying social consciousness. My hope is to invite the viewer to look at what moves, what remains and what gains meaning over time.

education
2017 Breitner Academy | University of the Arts (BA) Amsterdam
2001 Kreft New Media | Graphic Web design (Post BA) Amsterdam
1995 Gerrit Rietveld Art Academy (BA) Amsterdam

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
2012 Management and communication | Sanoma / Bergen
2010 Branding | Sanoma | Hoofddorp

exhibitions
2025
De Vishal | Haarlem | ~vloeibare grenzen~ | 25 okt - 30 nov
De Heemtuin | Leiderdorp | Natuurlijk! | 25 mei - 31 okt 
Leidse Kunstroute | in de Heemtuin | 27, 28 sept
Bergse Kunst10Daagse |Gallerie Klein Zwitserland | Schoorl | 'RE-' | 17 -26 okt
Kunstuitleen Alkmaar | Alkmaar | Ode aan de toekomst | 6 juli - 31 aug
Gallerie du Nord | Amsterdam | Global Village the Reunion |  8 - 19 aug 
Hellema | Zaandam | Atelierroute | 14, 15 juni, 21, 22 juni
Fluxus | Zaandam | Overzichtstentoonstelling Tengel | 31 mei, 1 juni
Museum Kranenburgh | Bergen | LUCHT | 11 mei - 29 jun

2024
Karavaan en Cultuur Kartel | Alkmaar | Light Festival
De Vishal | Haarlem | CHAOS + o r d e - n i n g
Kunstuitleen Alkmaar | Alkmaar | ODE AAN HET LICHT sept
De Vishal | Haarlem | Sensitive Values
Fort aan Den Ham | Uitgeest | Dappere Dieren
Museum Kranenburgh | Bergen | Meeliften

2023
Boterhal | Hoorn | Een koud kunstje
De Vishal | Haarlem | The Blue of Longing
Museum Kranenburgh | Bergen | De Kern van de Zaak
Boterhal | Hoorn | Hoop
L-A-B Boterhal | Hoorn | Zomerbloei
Gallery Klein Zwitserland Schoorl | SOLO
Kunstuitleen Alkmaar | Onzichtbare monumenten
L-A-B Boterhal | Hoorn | Dwaallicht
Museum Kranenburgh | Bergen | Hokjes en heilige huisjes

2022
L-A-B Boterhal | Hoorn | Midwinter
Boterhal | Hoorn | Horizon
Museum de Fundatie | Zwolle | klimaatexpo '22
Gallery Klein Zwitserland Schoorl | SOLO
Museum Kranenburgh | Bergen | 75 jaar KCB | DE TOEKOMST IS NU
KEK Kunst Kerkplein | Beverwijk | Foyer Kennemertheater | SOLO
Boterhal | Hoorn | Hoornse Nieuwe
Heemtuin | Leiderdorp | Kunst in de Heemtuin
Heliomare | Wijk aan Zee | SOLO
Museum Kranenburgh | Contrasten
Kunstgenielood | Uitgeest | Zaans atelierroute
PlayRoom | Zaandam | 'Standardman' book Grayson Perry
Boterhal | Hoorn | 'De stand van zaken'

2021
Gallery Klein Zwitserland Schoorl | SOLO
Café Fabriek | Zaandam | 'Mijn vrijheid - jouw vrijheid'
Former Scheringamuseum | Opmeer | 'Drinendruit'
Hospital Medical Centre Almaar | entrance gallery
Gallery Klein Zwitserland Schoorl | community art project 'bij ons in de buurt'

2020
Museum Kranenburgh | Bergen | het Geluid van de Tijd
Nieuw Dakota | Amsterdam | Corona archives
Museum Kranenburgh / Bergen / KCB Salon
Kruithuisje | Alkmaar
Art-garage | Alkmaar

2019
De Balie | Amsterdam | Nasty Women | #TeamFemke
Bagsmuseum | Amsterdam
Gallery Wapen van Bergen | BK10D
Ateliers BaZtille | Zoetermeer /SALON des Artistes
Kunsthal 45 / Den Helder | Wild camping
Gallery De Kapberg | Egmond | performance

2018
Eco village | BK10D
Cultural art festical | Alkmaar de Hout

2017
Nieuw Dakota | Francis Boeske Projects Amsterdam | SummerShow
Sint Laurens Church | art on wheels
Boterhal Hoorn | Onrecht
Gallery FRAME

2015
(∂ + m) ψ = 0, Love takes shape | Multiverso | Florence (IT)
Sterkenhuis Bergen | BK10D
Hoeve Amara Bergen | Global Village Artists
Oude Honigfabriek de Zaan | Opklop pudding | Global Village Artists
KOEL310 / Alkmaars eigenste / Global Village Artists

commission
2025 - now Board member | De Alkenhorst community centre
2022 - now Owner | Studio SmeltKroes
2024 Cultural coach | FA Alkmaar en Kunstuitleen | 'Nieuwe Beeldmakers'
2024 Curator | exhibition 'Sensitive Values' | De Vishal Haarlem
2024 Causeur | inspiring lecture 'art connection and transformation' | Vrije Kunst ’83 Bergen
2022 Causeur | inspiring lecture 'leadership' | NoLost | Utrecht
2022 Causeur | lecture 'Connections - Verbinding' | iL Office | Amsterdam
2022 Cultural coach | Murmellius Gymnasium | Alkmaar
2022 Causeur | 'Borderless' | BSG | Bregen
2022- 2024 Cultural coach | Stedelijke Museum Alkmaar
2021- 2025 Cultural coach | Museum Kranenburgh
2021 - 2022 Coordinator exhibition committee KCB | museum Kranenburgh | Bergen
2021 Board member KCB | museum Kranenburgh | Bergen
2010-2021 Freelance Tutor in Art, Culture and design
2020 Conceptdesign Branding and research KCB |
2020 Organizor Community art project | Ontzettend Vrij
2020 Organisor alternative exhibition route Alkmaar | Insideout
2019 Performance | Galerie De Kapberg | Egmond
2019 Coördinator and organizing exhibitions | pop-up gallery
2019 Conceptdesign Branding | head of communication Theatre VrijZijn
2016 Performing XL wall-paintings | Woekerwanden | Mare Nostrum | Alkmaar
2015 Performing XL wall-paintings | Artiance | Alkmaar
2010 - 2023 1st degree Tutor in Art, Culture and Design for several schools
2006 - 2009 Founder neigborhood communittee and spokesman at council meetings
2006 - 2009 Chairman organisation | Driemaster
2004 - 2009 Founder and coach child-editorial de Driemaster
2004 - 2012 Grafic design | Filmhuis Provadja, YXIE Kees Wieringa
2001-2003 Art Directo magazines | SANOMA | Hoofddorp
1997-2021 Freelance concept-, graphic-, web- and stagedesign
@ DPG Media | Hearst | NAP Design Amsterdam | GRAS design (Rebrandt®)
1997 Freelance conceptdesign / New start Productions / Jaarbeurs Utrecht

articles
2025 De Lakenhal | kunstroute Leiden
2024 Alkmaar Light Festival Alkmaar | Cultuurkartel de Karavaan
2024 Trendbeheer - er uit halen wat er in zit | Alex de Vries
2024 Haarlems Dagblad | Sensitive Values
2024 Kunstlijn Haarlem | Sensitive Values
2024 Blog Sandra Mackus | Sensitive Values
2023 Noord Hollands Dagblad | De Kern van de Zaak
2023 Ons West Friesland | Hoop
2023 Noord Hollands Dagblad | Galerie Zaans Groen
2022 Boterhal | Horizon
2022 Boekuitgave Klimaatexpo 22 | Museum de Fundatie
2022 Klimaatexpo 22 | De Fundatie - Kasteel Nijenhuis
2022 Klimaatexpo '22 with ArtWorlds | De Fundatie
2022 KeK | SOLO expo
2022 Hoorns Dagblad | Hoornse Nieuwe
2022 Noord Hollands Dagblad | Standaard man
2022 Noord Hollands Dagblad | Zaans attelierroute
2022 BOKnet | De Stand van zaken in Hoorn
2021 Book edition | Mijn vrijheid jouw vrijheid
2021 PLAYRooM @ Scheringa museum
2021 BeatFM BeatTV Heiloo | nieuwe-exposities-kunst-als-medicijn
2021 Alkmaars Dagblad | community art project /bij ons in de buurt
2020 Nieuw Dakota Amsterdam | Corona Archives
2020 Lens Culture | online
2020 Noord Hollands Dagblad | Gallery Klein Zwiterland
2020 Noord Hollands Dagblad | alternative art route: binnenstebuiten
2020 Museum Kranenburgh Bergen
2020 Alkmaars Dagblad | Kunst in Zicht
2019 de Balie Amsterdam | Nasty Women #TeamFemke
2019 Kunst en museumkrant | special edition
2019 Gallery Wapen van Bergen | BK10D
2019 Algemeen Dagblad, KunstinZicht | Salon des Artistes
2019 Artist talk book edition Boterhal | with Margot van der Pool
2019 Kunsthal 45 Den Helder | book edition | Wild camping book art
2018 Alkmaarsche Courant | De Duinstreek | Performance 'disappear'
2018 De Duinstreek | BK10D
2017 De boterhal | Hoorns Dagblad Onrecht
2017 Alkmaarsche Courant | Organ festival
2016 Alkmaarsche Courant | Mare Nostrum
2015 De Honig factory | opkloppudding | Global Village Artists

interviews
2023 Radio | Cultuur Buur | by Ingrid Koens, Streekstad Centraal
2021 Noord Hollands Dagblad | community art project 19/2
2020 RTV 80 18/12

memberships
2023 - now De Vishal | Haarlem
2019 - now Global Village Artists
2020 - 2025 KCB Museum Kranenburgh | Bergen
2022 - 2024 De Boterhal | Hoorn
2021 - 2025 Tengel | Zaandam

residences
11-07 - 22.08.2025 Japan
03.05 - 11.05.2024 Madeira
31.07 - 22.08.2023 Cuba
26.11 - 01.12-2021 Italy
02.08 - 28.08.2020 England
28.07 - 19.08.2019 Vietnam
03.1998 - 05.1999 Espinho, Portugal
11.1997 - 02.1998 Abdul Hakim, Pakistan