Sieglinde Van Damme
Multi-disciplinary artist based in California
ABOUT/ARTIST STATEMENT
Sieglinde Van Damme is a multi-disciplinary artist based in California, although she used to be an economist with European roots. As an award-winning artist, she participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions spanning the US, Europe, Russia, India, and Japan. Through abstract paintings and photo related digital productions, her work reflects on the deep layers of our individual past history and the complex dynamics behind big life choices. She's driven to always "re-imagine what else is possible;” which translates into a constant process of defining and redefining visual realities, as her work often tumbles from one medium into another before finding a place of rest. This concept is deeply rooted in her immigration experience from Europe to the US in 1998. She quickly realized she couldn’t just transplant her old identity into the new environment. Instead, she had to find a way to adapt to a new society while staying true to who she was at her core: “I had to re-imagine not who I was, but who I ‘could be’ on this side of the ocean.”
The personal life dynamics spilled over into her artwork with two main questions swirling back and forth between both: what else can this be- who else can I/you be? She embraces the identity of a person, a subject matter, a place, a circumstance, a thing, as fluid and evolving in time and space. Her work serves as an inspiring invitation to open your mind and engage in the joy of pondering new realities, for you. We are all creative and regrets are a burden, not a medal. Sieglinde’s art and writings have been published in various catalogs and media publications both in the US and in Europe. Her art is included in private and corporate collections around the globe, including Sotheby’s International Realty in France - Monaco. Sieglinde holds both an MS Economics and a Master in Fine Arts. Award highlights include the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award for video art in Italy; the Belle Foundation Grant for artistic merit as well as the Leigh Weimers Artist Award in Silicon Valley, CA; a Grant from the San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs' Creative Industries Incentive Fund through the Center for Cultural Innovation; and both a 2021 & 2022 Certificate of Artistic Merit from the jury at the Luxembourg Art Prize.
Website: www.sieglindevandamme.com
Instagram: @sieglinde.art