Marijntje Roos Hijgenaar wins 2024 HeArtfund Award
- Fine Art
- ArtEZ Prizewinner
Marijntje Roos Hijgenaar, who graduated in 2024 with a bachelor's degree in Fine Art from the AKI ArtEZ Academy of Art & Design, has won the HeArtfund Award. This prize, awarded by the Hengelo-based HeArtpool Foundation, offers promising AKI graduates a great start to their careers. For Marijntje, the award means access to a studio space, financial support, and professional guidance for a year, culminating in a solo exhibition at the end of her work period.
Unanimous choice
The jury, consisting of Jet van der Sluis, Remco Dikken, and Jan Noltes, visited AKI’s graduation exhibition and unanimously chose Marijntje as the winner. Her colorful paintings captivated the committee.
Themes of existentialism, feminism, and intimacy
“Who you become and how you live is shaped by the interactions and connections you make,” Marijntje explains. “I’m fascinated by relationships and connections, and I try to understand them through painting and writing. By exploring everyday moments, I seek to gain insight into how we relate to one another.” These themes, such as existentialism, feminism, and intimacy, form a common thread throughout her work. The HeArtfund Award gives Marijntje the space and freedom to further develop her artistic practice. “Winning this award allows me to explore my work on a deeper level. I’m now focusing entirely on painting and writing. What comes next is still a surprise!”
About the HeArtfund Award
The HeArtfund Award is an initiative of the HeArtpool Foundation in Hengelo and is presented annually to a promising graduate painter. The award includes a year of support in the form of a studio space, financial contributions towards rent and material costs, and professional guidance. The year concludes with a solo exhibition and a publication of the work produced during the work period.