Artist Statement
‘I paint moments of quiet presence shaped by light and atmosphere.
Working primarily in oil, my paintings move between portraits, figurative subjects and florals. I am drawn to moments where light transforms an ordinary scene — the glow of a setting sun across petals, the soft illumination of a face, or the stillness that settles over a landscape at the end of the day.
Rather than focusing on precise detail, I aim to capture the feeling of a moment: the warmth of evening light, the hush of a garden at dusk, or the quiet presence of a figure within nature. Through layered paint and painterly brushwork, light and atmosphere gradually emerge, allowing the subject to feel both intimate and timeless.
My work is rooted in observation but guided by mood and memory. I am interested in how light, colour, and softness of form can create a sense of calm while still carrying a quiet emotional depth.
In a fast-paced world, I hope my paintings offer a moment to pause — a place where the viewer can slow down and simply experience light, presence, and atmosphere.’
Biography
Natalie Koeken is a figurative painter working primarily in oil and based in the south of the Netherlands. In 2024, she was selected for Masters of Realism, a collective of contemporary artists dedicated to practicing realistic drawing and painting at the highest level.
Her work moves between intimate portraits and floral subjects, characterised by soft realism, diffused light, and a quiet, contemplative atmosphere, often evoking a sense of stillness and introspection.
Curriculum Vitae
Education:
2021: Masterclass Portrait and Fabrics by Svetlana Tartakovska
2008-2014: Classical Drawing IKO Academie in Hoogstraten, Belgium
2006-2008: Orientation course IKO Academie in Hoogstraten, Belgium
Recognitions:
2025: Honorable Mention in the Elise Mathilde Portrait Prize
2024: Member of Masters of Realism
2024: selected for the ModPortrait 2023 Special Catalogue
2022: selected for the ModPortrait 2021 Special Catalogue
2021: nominee for De Nederlandse Portretprijs (The Dutch Portrait Prize) (juried show)
2021: selected for the ModPortrait 2020 Special Catalogue
2019: nominee for De Nederlandse Portretprijs (The Dutch Portrait Prize) (juried show)
2014: graduated top of her class
2012: selected for KoMASK’s drawing competition ‘The Human Figure’ in Antwerp
Exhibitions:
2025: group exhibition ‘Het Portret’, Slot Zeist
2025: group exhibition ‘Verre Gezichten Dichtbij’, Domkerk, Utrecht
2024: group exhibition ‘Verre Gezichten Dichtbij’, Ruurlo-NL
2021: group exhibition De Nederlandse Portretprijs (The Dutch Portrait Prize) (juried show)
2019: group exhibition De Nederlandse Portretprijs (The Dutch Portrait Prize) (juried show)
2014: exhibition in Stedelijk Museum Hoogstraten (BE)
Publications:
2024:
The Leonardo Guide, Arte Libre
ModPortrait 2023 catalogue, MEAM in collaboration with Arte Libre
2022:
The Leonardo Guide, Arte Libre
ModPortrait 2021 catalogue, MEAM in collaboration with Arte Libre
2021:
The Leonardo Guide, Arte Libre
ModPortrait 2020 catalogue, MEAM in collaboration with Arte Libre
Dutch Portrait Prize catalogue
2019:
Dutch Portrait Prize catalogue