studio 'néetje is Renée van den Kerkhof. If you say "litte Renée" in Dutch, it's "Renéetje", and "'néetje" is even shorter for that (I'm not really tall). I used to call myself "creative and an entrepeneur", but haha, yes, those are basic characteristics of somebody who owns a creative business. So I'd rather call myself a diverse, initiative taking and socially involved illustrator.

​​1991 born in Susteren (province of Limburg, the Netherlands)
2009 graduated from grammar school
   Trevianum Scholengroep in Sittard
2012 bachelor Literary Sciences 
    University of Leiden
    Internship at Leiden University Press
2015 bachelor Design
    major Illustration
    AKV|St.Joost in Breda
    Internship at Funk-e Animations in Rotterdam

Visit my LinkedIn for a more elaborate curriculum vitae.

The photo on the left was made by Fieke de Boeck, during my artist in residence in the Torenkamer of the AVROTROS/Opium in Amsterdam.

Currently, I live and work in the beautiful city of Breda, in the south of the Netherlands. Since September 2014 the Chamber of Commerce knows me as studio 'néetje. The materials I work with vary from project to project; sometimes analogue, sometimes digital (or both) techniques. And I'm not an awful person, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! For example; I'm always looking for new opportunities to exhibit my work. And yes, purple is a very nice colour indeed.

Books and politics

My most important activities are in the cultural field, but I was always fortunate to have had a broad education and I have also always had many interests.

Literary Sciences as a study was fine and very interesting, but after graduating from my bachelor, I didn't continue with a relevant master. In those years, I never stopped drawing (something I have been doing since I was very little - not that I'm very tall now, but still). I realised I didn't just want to analyse text but make images as well. Perhaps I'll find a good way to combine these two one day.

I'm also very active socially, for example politically. I dare to think along about making bold statements and follow current events. This way, I know how my way around policies and current problems and know how to adapt to certain events rapidly.

Society and durability

In Dutch we have a word called "beeldvorming", which not only means the literal creation of images, that people can see, but also the process in which somebody formulates an opinion in her or his head. That is something I like to contribute to. Everything I make is figurative and applicable. With this, I like to contribute to society by making interesting subjects and terrains accessibly or by denouncing issues in a fun way. As a creator of images you decide who people see and experience something, and that can be of use by inviting the audience to think of where we as inhabitants of this world want to be in let's say twenty or a hundred years.

I prefer working for companies and organisation that operate in the heart of society and want to contribute to that society. For example, in my work I like to show diversity; not only important in a social matter, but it also helps appealing to a broader audience - which is relevant if you want your message to stick around. I am also always looking for new options to make my own business and its processes greener.

Exhibitions

30 March - 1 April 2018: Beach ball art expo, at Paaspop in Schijndel
11 December 2016 - 1 February 2017: Strips! goes Inktober 2016 ​at Strips! museum in Rotterdam
2 - 6 Juli 2016: Ga Terug Naar Start at AKV|St.Joost in Breda
28 - 29 March 2015: Nachtcultuur at Bibliotheek Het Groene Hart in Woerden
28 - 30 October 2014: LEVEL UP at Electron in Breda
3 - 7 September 2014: BUT Film Festival at Nieuwe Veste in Breda
27 March 2014: Morabeza: de ongrijpbare Kaapverdiaanse identiteit at Kriterion in Rotterdam
24 January 2014: De vrouw die de honden eten gaf at Uitgeverij De Geus in Breda
24 April - 30 May 2013: Wedstrijd Koningspaar at Gemeentehuis in Echt
22 - 24 March 2013: Ontmoet me at Electron in Breda
14 October - 4 November 2011: Echt-Susteren in Beeld at Gemeentehuis in Echt

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