Interior Statement Pieces

Artist Statement

My work is situated at the intersection of contemporary art, texture, and luxury interior experience.

With leather as a powerful starting point, I create unique artworks in which depth, tension, and material experience take center stage. The material is alive, carries character, and changes with the light — that is precisely where the power of the work lies for me.

I work intuitively and from feeling, where texture and composition are at least as important as color or form. My works are intended to give a space an immediate presence: powerful, warm, luxurious, and tangible.

The combination of craftsmanship, material experience, and modern design ensures that my leather art comes into its own within both contemporary art collections and high-end interiors.

— Maartje van Berkel

Leather artworks with a soul
These leather paintings are unique compositions, constructed from carefully selected pieces of leftover leather. No brushstrokes, but layered patterns, textures, and forms that together create an abstract, powerful portrait. Each work tells a story — your story, the story of the material, or a universal story of expression. Unique leather art!

A portrait in leather
Identity captured in material A portrait in leather is not a copy of a face. It is a translation of character, emotion, and energy. By simplifying forms and letting leather structures speak for themselves, a timeless work of art is created that reaches beyond figuration. Each portrait is built up by hand, piece by piece, until all elements come together to form a cohesive whole.

het maken en voorbereiden van een schilderij van leer

Maartje van Berkel aan het werk in haar atelier

Craftsmanship and sustainability

As an artist, I consciously work with upcycled leftover leather. Each fragment is unique — scratches, imperfections, color variations — which I do not remove, but rather embrace. In this way, the material is given a second life and sustainability becomes an essential part of the artwork, not merely a choice.

Minimalist forms, maximum impact

My style is sleek, abstract, and graphic. Yet, you always feel warmth. The leather adds depth and luxury, while the minimalism brings tranquility. As a result, the works fit into modern interiors, galleries, and public spaces. They invite you to come closer, look again, and discover something new every time.