We are pleased to announce “Extremophiles” by Femke Hiemstra, which is her first solo exhibition in Japan, at MEGUMI OGITA GALLERY.

Femke Hiemstra was born in 1974 and raised, surrounded by nature, in Zaanderstad of the Netherlands. Though, as a lover of nature, she believed she would either become a vet, be involved with forest conservation or even live amongst horses, she would ultimately pursue a creative path.

After graduating from the School of Arts in Utrecht (Illustration, 1994-1997), the artist sustained a 10 year career as a freelance illustrator where, during which, she discovered her originals drawing attention from the world of fine art.

Major literary works include "Rock Candy" and "The Timid Cabbage".

Her artwork depicts a figurative and surreal world that involves characters and anthropomorphic flora and fauna, which is part real and part fictitious. The creatures in these scenes behave like people, with the same glory or shortcomings of human beings. Furthermore, the artist's work features multilingual typography, old picture books, illustrations and covers from magazines, which take from a tradition of techniques characteristic of Pop Art's humor and satire. Meanwhile, she’s also drawn to darker themes that involve strong emotions like battles, a hunt, the loss of a loved one or the romantic death.

The artist draws inspiration from anything, such as from music lyrics, a news item or someone’s weird nickname. She also finds inspiration in: the behavior of animals, nature, old packages with hand drawn typography, tattoos, old encyclopedias, firework wrappers, vintage toys, comics, Japanese woodblock prints, old Little Golden Books, tin toy collectables and the art of Max Ernst, Hieronymus Bosch and the engravings of J.G. Posada.

In addition to her paintings, the artist's portfolio, which has been exhibited in numerous galleries throughout the world, features delicate works, such as thin layers of acrylic and color pencil drawn and painted on surfaces of old books and stones. Despite her underground aesthetic, the loyalty of her fan base has remained strong.

At this exhibition, we are proud to present 10 new paintings, which includes works from "New Shift"- that features an anthropomorphized sun and moon. It would be our pleasure to, again, announce this upcoming solo exhibition, of Femke Hiemstra's “Extremophiles” and to cordially invite you to view its display.