My name is Luna van der Straaten (2001), a visual artist based in Amsterdam. I explore themes such as life and death, the unconscious, transience and eternity. Through an intuitive process, I combine personal memories, texts, photos, objects and drawings into layered visual narratives that leave room for imagination, emotion and the irrational. My painting, drawings and printmaking are an ongoing attempt to grasp the complexity of being human and the mystery of existence, where I try to capture the elusive aspects of the human mind and the tension between consciousness and the unconscious.
My working process moves between control and intuition. Each piece emerges from a feeling, as if it presents itself to me and I simply need to guide it. I work in layers, adding, removing, and building images that couldn’t exist without that layering. Embracing doubt, failure, and unexpected turns is an essential part of this process. Mistakes and revisions are just as vital to the final result as conscious decisions.
I draw inspiration from philosophical, religious, and historical sources, as well as from spontaneous visual encounters in daily life. Symbolism plays an important role in my work as a bridge between the visible and the hidden.
In a time when the rational, measurable, and individual often dominate, I see exploring the unconscious and irrational as a valuable and necessary counterbalance. I believe we can enrich our image of humanity by creating space for the irrational, intuitive, and emotional dimensions within ourselves. I hope my work can offer a space for that.
EXHIBITIONS
Expositieruimte 38CC "Fruiting bodies" - Delft (19/07 - 14/09 2025, group show)
Factor IJ - Amsterdam (02/07 - 31/07 2025, solo show)
Exposure, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht (26/06 - 01/07 2024)
Studio K - Amsterdam (01/03 - 01/05 2024, solo show)
Fuse, Troef - Leiden (06/10 - 04/11 2023, group show)
Death By Dagger exhibition, ACU - Utrecht (03/09 - 30/09 2023, solo show)
De Nijverheid “Soul, mind, life soul” - Utrecht (06/02 - 27/02 2023, group show)
Festival Ongeluk! Amsterdam (13/01 2023, group show)
De Utrechtse Boekenbar - Utrecht (05/11 2021, group show)
Festival Dwaalspoor - Vlissingen (06/11 - 07/11 2021, group show)
INTERNSHIPS
Jonat Deelstra (February & March 2023)
Munir de Vries (May - July 2023)
STUDIES
BA Illustration – Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht (2020-2024)
CONTACT
+31 6 81509606
lunavanderstraaten@gmail.com
Instagram: @luna.vanderstraaten
