Denise Buisman Pilger
Denise Buisman Pilger is a contemporary artist whose practice centers on themes of empowerment and authenticity, expressed through bold, abstract mixed-media paintings. Born in Amsterdam and having lived in Fort Worth, Montréal, and Nagoya, her experiences across four countries have deeply influenced her exploration of identity and resilience. Through her art, she addresses the strength required to embrace one’s true self in the face of societal expectations.
Denise's early work, a series of urban mixed-media paintings, evoked feelings of nostalgia and transformation, reflecting the dynamic environments of her expatriate life. As her practice evolved, she shifted toward abstract expression, focusing on the interplay of colour, texture, and form to convey emotional depth and the power of personal reinvention. Her use of materials such as acrylics, washi paper, and image transfers creates a layered, tactile experience that invites viewers to engage with both the surface and the underlying emotional narrative.
Her work transcends memory, offering an invitation to embrace imperfection and find strength in vulnerability. By challenging the conventional boundaries of identity and self-expression, her art encourages viewers to confront their own constraints and explore the power of authenticity. The vibrant, textured compositions reflect the resilience she found in the continuous reinvention of self, and they serve as a call for others to embrace their individuality with courage.
Denise holds a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration from the Willem de Kooning Academy of Arts in Rotterdam. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Art Basel Week, Art Expo New York, the Toyota Museum, the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, and galleries in New York, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Nagoya, Okazaki, and Gifu.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My abstract mixed media paintings are a celebration of strength and authenticity. In a world where our lives often feel like a constant performance, maintaining a true sense of self is a challenge. The pressures of societal expectations, amplified by the daily deluge of social media, make it all too easy to lose sight of who we are. I’ve spent years conforming to others’ expectations, but through my art, I’ve discovered the power of reclaiming my own identity.
At the easel, the urge to create boldly—using vibrant colours and rich textures—became impossible to ignore. My art became a refuge, a way to quiet external pressures and rediscover the core of who I am. The act of creation has allowed me to break free from the rules I once followed, embracing freedom and imperfection.
Drawing from over a decade and a half of experience, my series "Unveiling" explores this journey of self-expression, using layers of acrylics, washi paper, oil pastels, sand, and alcohol to evoke subtle textures and luminous effects. The process mirrors my path of peeling back layers of expectation to reveal something deeper and more authentic beneath the surface.
In my studio, I let the paintings lead, relinquishing control and allowing the work to unfold naturally. By embracing imperfection and unpredictability, I find freedom in the act of creation, and I invite others to experience the same.
In a world constantly seeking approval, I believe it is crucial to nurture our inner sanctuary. Through my work, I aim to create space for empowerment and emotional resilience, encouraging others to break free from perfectionism and external validation.
My art is a call to embrace the beauty of imperfection, listen to our inner voices, and explore our true selves with courage. As I continue this journey, I look forward to seeing where my art will lead—to new destinations of creative freedom and personal empowerment.
Denise Buisman Pilger is a contemporary artist whose practice centers on themes of empowerment and authenticity, expressed through bold, abstract mixed-media paintings. Born in Amsterdam and having lived in Fort Worth, Montréal, and Nagoya, her experiences across four countries have deeply influenced her exploration of identity and resilience. Through her art, she addresses the strength required to embrace one’s true self in the face of societal expectations.
Denise's early work, a series of urban mixed-media paintings, evoked feelings of nostalgia and transformation, reflecting the dynamic environments of her expatriate life. As her practice evolved, she shifted toward abstract expression, focusing on the interplay of colour, texture, and form to convey emotional depth and the power of personal reinvention. Her use of materials such as acrylics, washi paper, and image transfers creates a layered, tactile experience that invites viewers to engage with both the surface and the underlying emotional narrative.
Her work transcends memory, offering an invitation to embrace imperfection and find strength in vulnerability. By challenging the conventional boundaries of identity and self-expression, her art encourages viewers to confront their own constraints and explore the power of authenticity. The vibrant, textured compositions reflect the resilience she found in the continuous reinvention of self, and they serve as a call for others to embrace their individuality with courage.
Denise holds a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration from the Willem de Kooning Academy of Arts in Rotterdam. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Art Basel Week, Art Expo New York, the Toyota Museum, the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, and galleries in New York, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Nagoya, Okazaki, and Gifu.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My abstract mixed media paintings are a celebration of strength and authenticity. In a world where our lives often feel like a constant performance, maintaining a true sense of self is a challenge. The pressures of societal expectations, amplified by the daily deluge of social media, make it all too easy to lose sight of who we are. I’ve spent years conforming to others’ expectations, but through my art, I’ve discovered the power of reclaiming my own identity.
At the easel, the urge to create boldly—using vibrant colours and rich textures—became impossible to ignore. My art became a refuge, a way to quiet external pressures and rediscover the core of who I am. The act of creation has allowed me to break free from the rules I once followed, embracing freedom and imperfection.
Drawing from over a decade and a half of experience, my series "Unveiling" explores this journey of self-expression, using layers of acrylics, washi paper, oil pastels, sand, and alcohol to evoke subtle textures and luminous effects. The process mirrors my path of peeling back layers of expectation to reveal something deeper and more authentic beneath the surface.
In my studio, I let the paintings lead, relinquishing control and allowing the work to unfold naturally. By embracing imperfection and unpredictability, I find freedom in the act of creation, and I invite others to experience the same.
In a world constantly seeking approval, I believe it is crucial to nurture our inner sanctuary. Through my work, I aim to create space for empowerment and emotional resilience, encouraging others to break free from perfectionism and external validation.
My art is a call to embrace the beauty of imperfection, listen to our inner voices, and explore our true selves with courage. As I continue this journey, I look forward to seeing where my art will lead—to new destinations of creative freedom and personal empowerment.
$9,965.00
Acrylic and image transfer on wood.
60x48x1.50"
This piece reminds me of the time that my husband and I were living apart, my husband moved to Texas for a year for work while I was still in Holland. We were both having adventures on opposite sides of the world and missing eachother in the process. About halfway through the year we decided that this was no fun so I moved to Texas too and that's when I became the Artist Abroad.
When I’m visiting a place I always feel like time is too short, I have this hunger to see it all and of course never can. I absolutely fell in love with San Diego unfortunately I was only there for a few days.
The entire time I was there I was making are I absorbed as much of it a possible because I might never get the chance to visit there again! So I made sure to take as many pictures as I could during my time there. Working with these images to create a piece like this allows me some extra time to explore. It takes me back there, in my imagination I can explore this beautiful city to my hearts content.
$5,980.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
48x36x1.50"
Paint spills onto the panel like a lake overflowing its banks. As it blends and melds, it captures the Inner Bloom, the essence of the soul as it slowly unfurls like the petals of a flower, preparing to show its full beauty to the world.
Like raindrops awakening the stillness of a pool, drops of ink bloom on the surface, swirling into a portal of unfathomable depth.
As hues and shades flow and mingle, the authentic inner beauty rises, blossoming into a profound sense of completeness.
$7,975.00
Acrylic, oil pastel and ink on wood.
48x48x1.50"
Lost and Found Again:
With unwavering courage, the first strokes are boldly made, each line a declaration of determination.
Yet, as the journey unfolds, the path reveals its twists and turns, daunting roadblocks appearing like insurmountable mountains.
There are moments when courage falters, amidst the uncertainty of the winding road it is Lost and Found Again around the next bend.
Amidst the ebb and flow of courage, there is a raw honesty that resonates, evoking a sense of empathy and understanding.
$4,035.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on canvas.
30x36x1.50"
Embers Stir on a Winter's Day:
The world outside is a canvas dipped in icy blues, whites, and grays.
The thick blanket of snow alters the familiar landscape, softening edges and veiling the world in a tranquil, monochromatic serenity. Snow-covered trees stand in quiet reverence, absorbing all ambient sounds, creating a frozen symphony of stillness.
In the silence, floating ice crystals catch the sunlight, transforming the stillness into a dance of glittering brilliance. Each crystal ignites a spark within, a subtle warmth that stirs the embers of inspiration.
$2,790.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
24x30x1.50"
A Breath of Fresh Air:
As the sun bathes the delicate first leaves of spring, the canopy erupts in a kaleidoscope of a thousand greens and yellows.
Nature's palette unfolds, painting the world in vibrant hues that announce the arrival of a new chapter.
A Breath of Fresh Air sweeps through the soul, awakening dormant possibilities. The crispness of the air carries the promise of new beginnings, and with each breath the world exhales inspiration, breathing life into dreams and untold aspirations.
$4,150.00
Acrylic, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
30x40x1.50"
Firmament Aflame:
Bold strides mingle with hesitant shuffles, tracing a path through uncertainty and perseverance.
Over and over, the journey circles back upon itself, retracing paths and starting afresh, and with each step layers of texture and life accumulate.
Through the labyrinthine twists and turns a beacon of clarity emerges as the Firefox sets the Firmament Aflame.
Its ethereal light piercing through the haze of doubt illuminating the path ahead.
$3,115.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
30x30x1.50"
Rising Essence:
In the quiet embrace of introspection, the ocean within whispers secrets untold, stirring emotions long dormant.
Bubbles, Rising from the Depth, ascending moments of truth, carrying with them a fragment of the authentic self, shimmering in the sunlight as it breaches the boundary between the hidden depths and the world above.
Breaking the surface of consciousness with gentle persistence, its ripples serve as a reminder of the beauty that lies within the unexplored depths.
$3,735.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
30x36x1.50"
Molten Essence Flows:
Like lava from the depths of the earth, Molten Essence Flows, radiating an inner glow that defies concealment beneath layers of societal conformity.
With an unstoppable force, it breaches the surface, casting aside the veil of pretense and revealing the raw beauty that lies within.
Leaving behind a landscape transformed, where authenticity reigns supreme and the radiance of the inner self shines brightly.
$9,965.00
Acrylic, oil pastel and ink on wood.
48x60x1.50"
Rising Essence:
Bubbling from the depths of the ocean within, like molten lava surging from the earth's core, carrying with it the radiant essence that glows within.
Amidst the deep, dark blue of the unexplored abyss, the Rising Essence shimmers with an ethereal glow, casting shadows upon the mysteries that lie beneath.
Each bubble dances upon the surface of consciousness, stirring emotions long dormant and awakening a yearning for the truth that lies hidden in the recesses below.
$4,035.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
30x36x1.50"
Beneath layers of turmoil stirred by the tumultuous currents of life lies a tranquil space, a sanctuary where the inner voice speaks with clarity.
Here, the echoes of the external world fade away. Amidst the stillness, the authentic core awakens, shyly emerging as the shackles of societal pressures fall away, encouraged to make itself heard.
Beneath the Turmoil is a moment of clarity, where the soul aligns with its truest essence, untouched by outside influences.
In this inner sanctuary, away from the complexities of existence, there's a simplicity—a reminder of the power found in listening inwardly, where the soul finds its balance and strength.
$4,150.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
30x40x1.50"
Beneath the Turmoil:
Descending through layers of inner turmoil and peace, where currents boil and swirl just beneath the surface.
Floating weightless in an azure expanse, above the shimmering light casts diamonds upon the water.
Surrounded by an ocean world of endless blue, where the only sounds are the silent symphony of the sea and the hypnotic rush of air slowly rising with each breath.
And in The Depths of Solitude, a moment of pure connection with the innermost self, offering both solace and challenge to the soul.
$2,490.00
Acrylic, washi, sand oil pastel and ink on wood.
24x30x1.50"
Hidden Glade:
Beneath the summer canopy of the forest, the world transforms into a realm of enchantment. Tall, bright green bamboo click-clacks in the wind, giving way to towering, deep green cedar trees. Light filters through the foliage, creating a myriad of greens and yellows that steal the breath away.
Walking through this serene expanse, a sense of calm and peace envelops all.
The quiet is profound, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves and the distant murmur of unseen streams. The air is alive with the magic of pollen drifting lazily, while the soft glow of fireflies dances among the trees, casting an ethereal light.
In this Hidden Glade, the hustle of life fades away, leaving only the soothing embrace of nature. The enchanting stillness, the play of light and shadow, and the vibrant hues that shimmer through the leaves create a moment of pure, unfiltered tranquillity.