Marja Thijssen: My CV in English.
In 1985 I graduated from the Amsterdam Academy of Visual Arts with Ceramics and Sculpture at 1st degree level.
Since then I have exhibited in galleries, museums and sculpture gardens. I also participate in theme exhibitions and work on commission.
I work with earthenware clay, stoneware and porcelain. I cast my own small bronze statues and I sculpt in different types of stone. In recent years I have been making “Strange Birds” in stone, ceramics and bronze for indoors and outdoors. I enjoy working in these different, always inspiring materials.
Birds fascinate me. Their colours, shapes, way of life, sounds, way of flying, size. I make my own Birds. Birds that no one has ever seen. Birds that still have bird characteristics, but then again not. You discover a beak, sometimes wings, a tail, eyes. “Strange Birds” they have become. They have a humorous touch, they want to make you smile.
In addition to my profession as a visual artist, I have been a teacher of Ceramics and Sculpture for 30 years. I occasionally provide workshops: bronze casting and raku firing. I also organize exhibitions and Community Art Projects.
I am a member of Artists Flevoland, Artists Association Laren-Blaricum, KunstKwartier Almere and Art Collective Muiden & Muiderberg.
As a ceramicist I have been making series in recent years. I have a series of cacti, a series of Brown Beasts, a series of Strange Birds in the Grass. Exodus, a floating scene consisting 3 animals floating on a raft.
As a ceramicist I have been making series in recent years. I have a series of cacti, a series of Brown Beasts, a series of Strange Birds in the Grass. Exodus, a floating scene consisting 3 animals floating on a raft.
Over the years I have exhibited a lot in various Dutch galleries. More recently my work has been exhibited at Ode aan de Natuur in Doorn, Preporché in France, Kunstmoment Diepenheim, KunstSchouw – Renesse 20918 and Burgh Haamstede 2023, KlimaatExpo’22 Kasteel Nijenhuis, NatuurKunstPark Lelystad, Zomersalon Amsterdam Zuid Oost, Rosa Spierhuis and Museum Nagele.
I have been a board member of various artists’ associations. In recent years I have been chairman of the jury at the ceramics exhibition in the city hall of Gouda during the Gouda Ceramics Market.
There are permanent bronze statues at Smelik & Stokking Galleries The Hague and at Galerie Sous Terre in Lithoijen.