Masha de Roo

Masha de Roo is a Dutch artist based in Scheveningen. From an early age, she demonstrated a talent for detailed drawing and developed a keen eye for observation. Having studied Graphic Design at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, she subsequently pursued further studies in illustration at Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, where she obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration.

De Roo’s artistic practice centres on symbolism and the subconscious, bringing personal experiences, desires and contemporary themes together in layered visual narratives. Working intuitively, she draws upon a diverse range of materials and techniques, with particular emphasis on their capacity to enrich the image and deepen its meaning. Her work navigates the tension between recognition and estrangement, inviting contemplation and individual interpretation. In bridging the personal and the collective, she creates work that encourages reflection without prescribing a singular meaning.

Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and she has contributed to multidisciplinary projects, including the installation *De stem van het kind*, which gave children a voice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside her independent practice, de Roo works on commission as a freelance graphic designer, illustrator and photographer, developing creative concepts for projects with a range of social and cultural aims. Her commissions have included CD covers, visual identities, flyers and posters, as well as the design of studio spaces and accompanying inspiration cards. She has also led workshops for children, bringing together different artistic disciplines.

De Roo now devotes herself primarily to her independent artistic practice, whilst continuing to explore new directions and collaborations in environmental art, including murals. Through these projects, she continues to develop and challenge her artistic vision.

In an age in which images and information come at us in rapid succession, I try to pause and reflect. My work arises from a desire to slow down and to explore what lies beneath the surface. I often begin with a concept, whilst leaving room for intuition and unexpected turns along the way. My process involves both adding and stripping away, until I arrive at the essence. For me, the power of art lies in its ability to touch the unconscious without words and to make an inner world visible.

In my work, I combine craftsmanship with experimentation. I use a range of materials, including acrylic and oil paints, pastels, stencils and layered textures, as well as techniques that bring analogue and digital processes together. The technique itself is not the focus; what matters is how it supports the image and enhances its meaning. I welcome the unexpected in the creative process, continually seeking the point at which materials, ideas and form come together to create a coherent whole.

I combine elements of contemporary culture with unexpected contexts and associations. At times, my work contains a subtle reference to current affairs; at others, it offers a critical reflection on our times and the desires that lie beneath the surface. The interplay between recognition and estrangement creates a tension that emerges both intuitively and consciously — a space where the present meets shared memories and personal stories, and where each viewer can discover their own meaning. **The multifaceted nature of my work invites viewers to engage with it on multiple levels.** Although it stems from my own story, viewers need not know that story to feel a connection with the work. Rather than offering definitive answers, I create space for reflection, emotion and personal interpretation.

My images are symbols of quiet emotions, shared feelings and the unseen tensions of our time. Inspired by dreams, the news, music, social media and personal experiences, I create layered compositions that feel both familiar and elusive. They invite individual interpretation and touch on things that cannot be expressed in words.