Carolien van der Westhuizen

Growing up, Carolien was creative for as long as she can remember—constantly redecorating her room and persuading her parents to change the wall colours. Her love for sketching and painting grew throughout her school years, leading her to develop a highly realistic style. At the time, she believed realism was the only true form of art. It wasn’t until studying graphic design at university that her perspective shifted, opening her eyes and mind to the beauty of abstract art, impressionism, and countless other styles she had previously overlooked.

Reconnecting with the pure delight of her nine-year-old self, colouring pen in hand, Carolien's greatest wish is to spark childlike joy in anyone who experiences her art. She believes that if her work can spread even a fraction of the happiness she feels while creating, then she has achieved something truly meaningful.

Carolien's inspiration can be summed up in three words: colour, country, and coastlines. However, she values artistic freedom above all, refusing to confine herself to a single approach. She thrives on experimenting with different mediums and colour palettes, believing that true artistry is found in the process, the playfulness, and the willingness to explore—rather than just the final piece.

Through her art, she adapts to new places and faces, using creativity as a therapeutic way to process and understand life in all its forms, changes, and phases.