University of Amsterdam, The Hague, The Netherlands
1978-1983: daycourses fashion styling, textile monumental

EXPOSITIONS

2007
SellarsProjectSpace, Denver, U.S.A., with Ebelina Brethouwer

Th Gallery, The Hague, The Netherlands, Preview 2007/2008

Art Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with Th Gallery

SellarsProjectSpace, Denver, U.S.A., My Gay Valentine, group exposition

2006
Outsider-Art Fair, Denver, U.S.A.

SellarsProjectSpace, Denver, U.S.A., Preview 2006/2007

Th Gallery, The Hague, The Netherlands, 3 x solo, with Anke Roder and Manu Baeyens

Kunstcentrum Hengelo, Hengelo, The Netherlands, 2 x solo, with Anne-Marie Meinders

Th Gallery, The Hague, The Netherlands, preview 2006/2007

2004
Stichting de Werkplaats Borne, The Netherlands, group exposition

Kunst Rai Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with Galerie Liesbeth Lips

Art Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with Galerie Liesbeth Lips

2002/03
My Home is My Gallery, project in privat houses, Gal. L.L.

2002
Galerie Liesbeth Lips, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, solo

Art Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with Galerie Liesbeth Lips

2001
Art Twente, The Netherlands, with Galerie Liesbeth Lips

Galeria Alvarez, Porto, Portugal, solo, exchange between cultural capitals

Stichting de Werkplaats Borne, The Netherlands, solo

Art Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with Galerie Liesbeth Lips

2000
Galerie Liesbeth Lips, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, solo

1999
Galerie Liesbeth Lips, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, solo

Galerie Van Wijngaarden, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, group exposition

1997
Galerie Liesbeth Lips, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, solo

Galeria Alvarez, Porto, Portugal, solo

For Van Steensel the materials she uses in her art form a starting point for a voyage of discovery. Every material has for her its own connotation. Everything she encounters is seen by her as potential means to that can help her to express herself in her paintings and statues. Hardly ever consequently will she use a prepared canvas on a stretcher. Her preference is using postbags, tablecloths, bedclothes etc. as an underground.
Her expressive works are populated by people and animals in a, as it seems, colourful but bold landscape. The text that pops up in her work can be fragments of song texts or direct expressions of feelings she had while making the work.
The voyage of discovery of Van Steensel is caused by curiosity and hunger for surprise about whatever asks her attention. The works of Van Steensel give the impression that she is asking herself questions and that she is hoping to find answers in her works.
The materials she uses for her paintings return in her statues, big pieces of found wood act as a skeleton. The statues have lots of layers. Sometimes some of these layers have to be lifted to get a better understanding of the work.
The statues of Van Steensel look loaded with energy and feelings and can be seen as a very personal European version of an African fetish or a gris-gris (talisman).
Of great importance for Van Steensel are also the texts she writes. These are very poetic and have a sensual and sensory character.