Basic Information

Name: Krista van der Meijden, October 9, 1953
Place of birth: Surabaya, Indonesia
Based in: Curaçao
Discipline: Ceramics

BIOGRAPHY

Krista van der Meijden has worked from her own ceramic studio since 1994.
For many years, Van der Meijden taught ceramics at Akademia di Arte, a community arts academy that has since closed. She served on the board of the artists’ association ArteVishon and contributed to shaping the organization. She also took part in artist-led initiatives, including the ‘Resusita’ and ‘ Boatproject’ exhibitions. Although she has maintained a lower public profile in recent years, she continues to produce ceramic work and regularly participates in Open Ateliers and group exhibitions.

Animals are a central source of inspiration in Van der Meijden’s practice, while language has become increasingly important to her work. Words and expressions in Papiamentu, Dutch, and English inspire visual compositions; conversely, imagined animals may lead her to a haiku or Papiamentu expression that becomes the work’s title. Phrases such as “Mijn oor te luister leggen” and “Batata di pia” exemplify this interplay between language and image.
Her animals are increasingly constructed from combinations of forms, bringing together familiar and invented features—an ancient iguana may appear alongside an Australian platypus with a trunk. Through these hybrid figures, Van der Meijden explores the absurdities of life and translates them into ceramics with wit and a subtle sense of humor.

Selected Exhibitions

• 2 Solo exhibition, Gallery Alma Blou, Curacao
• Resusita, Curacao
• Boatproject, Curacao
• Open Ateliers, Curacao
• Various group exhibitions, including occasional exhibitions abroad