Lisette Put

I grew up in a small village in the east of the Netherlands, in a creative but not art-oriented household. As a result, I never considered studying art as a possibility and chose graphic design instead. After graduating, I moved to London to figure out what/where I might study next. However, what was meant to be a 6 months stay turned into ten years, as I fell in love with the city and the sense of freedom it offered.

The experiences that left a lasting impression, came during my first visit to the Tate Modern, where I encountered Ai Weiwei’s Sunflower Seeds installation in the Turbine Hall. I had never seen art like that before.

Whilst my wish to study art grew in London, I kept working full-time during my first five years there. Living in a street where people often walked by carrying large canvases, I eventually followed them and discovered a small but open-minded Art Academy nearby. Drawn in by its welcoming atmosphere, I finally gathered the courage to apply. At the age of 30, I graduated with a diploma in Fine Arts.

Due to Brexit and rising living costs, I relocated to Antwerp with my partner. To stay connected with the art world and maintain my practice, I joined the KASKA DKO Project Atelier course.