Charlotte Mouwens (Rotterdam, 1981) is a Dutch artist. She studied at the ArtEZ Academie in Kampen and the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam. She lives and works in Amsterdam. In recent years, she has focused on painting; currently, she is working on small and large wall collages.

Charlotte Mouwens about her work:

“Currently, I search for a more abstract way of thinking, derived from natural phenomena. I have started thinking more and more in terms of patterns. At the moment, I cut painted patterns and interweave them. I had been working on patterns for a while, when a friend showed me a book about William Morris. It was beautiful – and impossible to equal. But I identified with the dynamic playfulness in his designs.

I particularly wanted the patterns to break out of their frames, in order to take shape as overgrowth. Instantaneously, this is what clearly distinguishes my patterns from those of William Morris. His patterns neatly stay within their two-dimensional boundaries, whereas my patterns need their three-dimensional escapes. Recently, I was able to present this to a commission; I transformed a small piece of forest into an enchanting place. I wanted a homely atmosphere to arise in the dark, which would lean towards spookiness.”

Over the years, Mouwens has enjoyed some short residencies, including the guest studio of the Van Gogh House and a residency trip to Shanghai. This trip yielded large collages, including one that was exhibited in the PWC. Mouwens likes working in the form of brief residencies. For her, this presents a nice variety: she can dive right in and challenge her boundaries.

Mouwens’ paintings have been nominated three times for the Royal Awards for Painting, and her works have been purchased by various companies and art collections.