Iris Bouwmeester

Wander through A Spell for Creation: a serene space filled with cloud formations and rocky landscapes. Visual artist Iris Bouwmeester (Schiedam, 1969) draws her inspiration from nature. Let yourself be carried along by her creative process, in which she calls for balance: between natural growth and human intervention, between vulnerability and strength.

Within the flower there lies a seed,
Within the seed there springs a tree,
Within the tree there spreads a wood.
— Poem: Spell of Creation by Kathleen Raine

The Process

Bouwmeester is inspired by nature. She explores how landscapes emerge and change, and how plants and animals grow and evolve. This fascination is visible in her work: organic forms that seem to twist, coil, swell, or contract.

As preparation for her sculptures, she takes numerous photographs in nature. She searches for images that aren’t immediately recognizable. By zooming in or out, for example, a swamp suddenly transforms into a starry sky.

The Sculptures

Especially for this exhibition, Bouwmeester created a landscape-like installation that fills the entire space. The work expresses the interconnectedness of earth, air, water, and life. Look, listen, smell, and feel (where allowed), because just like in nature, her art is best experienced with all your senses.

Bouwmeester constructs her sculptures using simple materials from hardware stores. She turns these materials inside out, so to speak, transforming them into something new. Yet because she uses minimal tools, the original materials remain visible.

The Artist

Bouwmeester is a familiar presence in Breda. She lives and works in the city and plays an active role in the local art scene. That involvement began during her studies at the St. Joost Academie (now St. Joost School of Art & Design), where she later taught for many years.

With her intuitive approach and use of modest materials, Bouwmeester continues to surprise and inspire. In this exhibition, not only her work but also the creative process behind it takes center stage for the first time. This year (2025), Bouwmeester received the KLEIO Foundation stipend, a well-deserved recognition of her powerful body of work and her commitment to the cultural life of Breda.