Photo by: Anne Schoemaker

Mijke Ambaum

is a visual artist that works within the scope of feminism, or to be more specific: phenomenological feminism, feminism that is based on lived experience. With the weight of women still being unheard, her mixed media installations and performances softly force attention to women’s voices, both from the past and the present.

Ambaum sees her work as nests of informal information, showing that casual conversation and gossip are integral parts for obtaining knowledge and keeping women safe. Ambaum highlights that the knowledges that are held by women are worthy, in whatever shape they are distributed, and should be seen as that. Her works act as archives, rooting from pain that was transmuted into power, filled with truly lived experiences.

Through highly detailed and time intensive works Ambaum revisits the conversations she has had with different women, both within her direct surrounding and women she hasn’t met before. These conversations and social interactions are an integral part of her practice, and they always find a way in the works.

Ambaum is passionate to create a space where women feel seen and heard, both within her work and society.

Artist Education

2019- 2023: Fine art BEAR, ArtEZ university of the Arts, Arnhem

2016- 2018: Fine art and design in education, ArtEZ university of the Arts, Arnhem

Residencies and courses:

2022:  artist in residence project ‘AQUA’, Fondazione Pistoletto, Biella, Italy

2022:  self-organized research month on women groups and sisterhood, Austin Texas, United States of America

Press

2023– Graduates 2023, Metropolis M, Netherlands

Exhibitions

Past:

2023: FULL: FILLED, graduation show BEAR fine art, ArtEZ university of the Arts, Arnhem

2022:  polyphonycacaphonyponytonymacaroni, ArtEZ university of the Arts, Arnhem, The Netherlands

2021:  Performance protest ‘stop street intimidation’, Marktplein, Arnhem, The Netherlands

2021:  where the wall hits the floor, ArtEZ university of the Arts, Arnhem, The Netherlands

2019:  No Clue, BOKA, Arnhem, The Netherlands

2018: You’ve got mail, Taphuys Exhibition space, Arnhem, The Netherlands

2018: The Big Draw (climate capital edition), COEF, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

2018: The Big Draw (climate capital edition), BAKAROSHOP, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.