Desiré Broeke (1963) discovered her passion for painting during the first lockdown in 2020. What began as a personal journey of discovery evolved into her own studio in Huisduinen, where she has since developed a consistent and intuitive visual language.
In her working process, intuition plays a central role. She does not start with sketches or preparatory studies, but works directly on the canvas. Without a predetermined outcome, the image gradually unfolds during the process, allowing spontaneity and authenticity to remain present.
The connection between people is a recurring theme in her work. Desiré draws inspiration from observations of everyday life, encounters, memories, and impressions gathered along the way. In this way, she creates a colourful world in which human relationships take centre stage.
Folklore, colour, and human connection form an important thread throughout her practice. Her work moves between figurative and abstract elements, creating a visual language in which human presence remains tangible, while still leaving room for personal interpretation.
Her practice began with the making of collages, where her fascination with layering, material, and composition first emerged. Desiré combines acrylic paint and oil sticks, often with fabric, tissue paper, and washi paper, in layered compositions where colour, rhythm, and material come together.
Through her work, Desiré invites the viewer to look longer and discover their own meanings. The openness of her visual language evokes both recognition and imagination.
