Margré Steensma (Nij Altoenae, 1989)
The Desire is to be free from desire
Until then I wil create throughout my constantly changing desires
Shape Shapes, objects & sculptures
And explore spaces/places to find something to hold on to
If you want to see some supportive shapes & spaces you can make an appointment for a studio visit at the Putsebocht in Rotterdam
contact: margresteensma@gmail.com
The installation Softness for Clarity / Zachte Helderheid is still on view until the end of September 2025 at Het Schreiershuisje Schiedam, Park Maasboulevard.
If you want to touch ‘Something to hold on to’ you can visit the public park in Vlissingen between Willem Klooslaan en de Sloeweg
Upcoming
July 2025 – Duo exhibition with Yuk Kan, Ceasuur, Middelburg
October 2024 – Air Bridge Studio, Kyoto, Japan
About me:
I am a visual artist based in Rotterdam. In my work, I explore spaces where people live, wait, work or come to rest. These spaces, whether domestic, public or abstract, often carry emotional meaning and are shaped by personal or collective desires. My practice is rooted in a need to create forms that offer comfort, softness, or reflection in response to feelings of longing or absence.
I work intuitively and process-based, often starting from a specific mood or spatial question. By reflecting on the function, materials and gestures within a space, I create sculptures and installations that exist somewhere between the familiar and the abstract. Tactility, sensory experience and material presence play a central role in how my works are made and perceived.
Recent projects include public artworks in Schiedam, collaboration in a museum for kids and my own project The Healing Space. In here I explored how sculpture can invite interaction, not only as something to look at, but something to sit on, lean against or find support in. I’m currently developing new works that blur the lines between sculpture, object and space, that offers room for some softness.
Education
2018/2019 Bachelor art education
Fontys Tilburg, The Netherlands
2013/2014 Master Fine Art
KASK Ghent, Belgium
2010/2013 Bachelor Image and Installation Art
KASK Ghent, Belgium
2009/2010 Orientation year, Fine Art
Artez Enschede, The Netherlands
Exhibitions
2025 Softness for Clarity / Heldere Zachtheid (solo)
Het Schreiershuisje, Schiedam
2024 Wild Summer of art
Brutus Rotterdam
2024 Tussenruimte
Het Archief, Rotterdam
2023 BIG Art
Bajes Amsterdam
2023 How would you like to be supported? (solo)
Het Lage noorden, Marrum
2022 Buitendienst; kunsthal on drift
Gallery Drift, Breda
2022 Dimension on settlement
Neck of the Woods, Rotterdam
2021 This Art Fair
Kromhouthal, Amsterdam
2021 Duoshow with Art van Triest
KEVN, Eindhoven
2020 In The House
Bouwput Amsterdam (duo)
2020 Textures&Grids
AGA Lab Amsterdam (presentation residency)
2019 Limbo & Taverns (open studio)
Kaus Australis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2018 Independent art fair (duo presentation)
Brussels, Belgium
2018 K&C 30 jaar (group)
Kunst&complex, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2018 Prospective Objects (duo)
Plagia Rama, Brussels, Belgium
2017 Toolboxes and Territories (duo)
CBK Zeeland, Middelburg, The Netherlands
2017 Prospects & Concepts (group)
Art Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2016 Ta Daa (studio presentation)
Kaus Australis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2015 All I want is to take a Bath (solo)
The Briggait, Glasgow, United Kingdom
2015 Everyday (group)
Incubarte 7, Ibercaja Gallery, Valencia, Spain
2015 Melted Reality (duo)
Plagia Rama, Brussels, Belgium
2014 Graduation show
Auditorium KASK Ghent, Belgium
2014 All I want with my life is to be a Housewife (solo)
KASK, Ghent, Belgium
2013 The only rule is Work (group)
Zwarte zaal KASK, Ghent, Belgium
2013 Chew it (group)
Chroxhapox, Ghent, Belgium
2013 Absolute, VZW Gert Robijns (group)
Charleroi, Belgium
Public Space
2021 – Something to hold on to – kunstpark Vlissingen
2025 – Softness for clarity – Schreiershuisje Schiedam
Residency
February – April 2023 Het Lage Noorden, Marrum, The Netherlands
Augustus 2020 – November 2020 Steim, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Juni 2020 – Juli 2020 AGA Lab, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Januari 2016 – Juni 2016 Kaus Australis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
September 2014 – June 2015 MANY graduate residency, Glasgow Scotland
Awards / Grants
2025 I&V What are the mental tools for making, CBK Rotterdam
2025 Voucher Ambachten, Mondriaan Fonds
2024 Praktijkbijdrage Tussenruimte, CBK Rotterdam
2023 O&O for How would you like to be supported?, CBK Rotterdam
2023 AIR Het Lage Noorden, binnenlandateliers Mondriaan Fonds
2021 Project funding The Extending Space, Makersloket, stichting Droom en Daad
2021 Project funding for the obstacles, CBK Rotterdam
2021 project funding The Non Space, Mondriaan Fund, The Netherlands
2020 Ik ben een god in het diepst van mijn gedachten – competition proposal for an outside sculpture (winner), Kipvis, Vlissingen, The Netherlands
2020 Mondriaan Fund, The Netherlands, Project funding for AGA lab & Steim Amsterdam
2018 Mondriaan Fund, The Netherlands, Project funding for ‘Other Spaces’
2016 Mondriaan Fund, The Netherlands, Stipendium for Young Talent
2014 Mondriaan Fund, The Netherlands, Stipendium for Depth Development Artistic Practice
Publications
2022 Presentatie, Productie, Research, CBK Rotterdam
2020 Grote Nederlandse kunstkalender
2018 Plagia Rama, Prospective Objects
2017 CBK Zeeland, Toolboxes and Territories
2017 Prospects&Concepts
2017 D!ng magazine, four year anniversary
2015 Tijdschrift Ei, Clubjes
2015 Plagia Rama, Melted Reality
2014 Graduation, KASK