“What is nature aware of? How do trees feel? What is nature telling us? These are the questions I wrestle with in my work, guided by the concept of grace—an understanding that there is no triumph over violence except through mercy. (…) By capturing gesture-like forms shaped by the play of light which seem to convey consciousness and meaning, my work invites us to reconsider our place and responsibility within the natural world.”

On page Work photographs from 2 series: Please Talk To Me 2021-2023 and The Powerful Are Always Lied To 2023-2024.

“The powerful are always lied to, since the weak are always driven by panic,” is a line from the poem Matin by Louise Glück

Contact
info@eileenvanessen-seriousmae.nl

Social
@eileensliefde

Short Biography

Short biography Eileen van Essen / Serious Mae

Eileen van Essen studied photography at The Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. During and after she worked as a portrait photographer for magazines such as The Haagse Post and Elle, with her work featured in photography journals including Camera International. After several years in the photography world, Eileen transitioned to painting under the pseudonym Serious Mae. This shift led to a year-long grant from the Mondriaan Fonds (Werkbeurs) in the Netherlands. Eileen exhibited both her photographic and painted works nationally and internationally, with pieces held in government and private collections. She paused her artistic career for nearly 30 years while shifting focus to become a professional psychotherapist, love coach and astrologer. In 2022, Eileen resumed her photographic practice, now focusing on landscapes, a theme that resonates with her earlier work as a painter.

Curriculum Vitae

Present:
2025 2025 Solo Exhibition planned at EM Gallery in Amsterdam
2025Take over on Instagram page Map6 Collective – 23-28 Februrari
2024Artist in residence at LaBabuch, France June 2024
2024Artist in residence at ArteVentura Spain April 2024
2023Publication in ‘The Garden of Dreams,’ Black Flower’s Publishing Spring Vol. II
2023Workshop Re-purposing and the artist book with RAYMOND MEEKS ar LA BABUCH, France in Oct.

Past:
1990 Graduate Gerrit Rietveld Academy Amsterdam (photography).
1990Selection Unilever Art Collection.
1991Post-graduate Masterclass Sandberg Institute.
1989-1992Portrait photography for Haagse Post magazine, Quote, Elsevier, Elegance and Camera International.
1992Member of the board of Photographers Association Gkf, Amsterdam. Responsible for visual arts and representative at the meeting with the Minister of Culture.
1990-1996Several grants from Amsterdam City Council and year long grant (Werkbeurs) from The Mondriaan Foundation for painting.
1990-1996   Group and sole expositions in Amsterdam & Rotterdam (Unilever)  and group exhibition Santiago de Chili Museum of Modern Art.
1990-1996 Purchased for collections of City Council of Utrecht, City Council of Amsterdam, UGBI-Bank and private collections.
1994Adviser for the Commission for the Stimulation of the Visual Arts of the Municipality of Utrecht and an advisory member of the Theater a/d Werf commission.
1994-1996Founder and artistic director of project space D.O.C.Lands Amsterdam.
1997-2003Creative strategist for TWBA/Campain Company, Saatchi & Saatchi, Design Company Keja Donia and Total Identity.
2001-2003Co-owner Loerakker Gallery Amsterdam.
2003-2007Owner Identity Doctor – Creative Strategy and Personal Branding.
2007-nowOwner Piptherpie – practice for psychotherapy
2028-nowOwner Liefdesadviezen.com
2022-nowOwner Astrolovesage.com
2023Masterclass Re-purposing and the artist book with RAYMOND MEEKS at LA BABUCH, France
2024Publication in ‘The Garden of Dreams,’ Black Flower’s Publishing Spring Vol. II
2024Artist in residence at ArteVentura Spain, April 2024
2024Artist in residence at La Babuch, France, June 2024
2025Solo planned in EM gallery Amsterdam November 2025
2025Take over on Instagram page Map6 Collective – 23-28 Februrari 2025
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