First Time at Lepeltje Lepeltje

Between Nature, Memory & Pop Colors

On June 8th and 9th, I took part in the Lepeltje Lepeltje Festival at NDSM Amsterdam for the very first time. I brought with me not only my handmade pieces but also a new artistic direction that I was both excited and curious to share: the fusion of eco printing and vintage collage.

This was a meaningful debut—my first public presentation of works created by combining botanical printing techniques with 1950s vintage imagery from old advertisements, encyclopedias, and forgotten archives. I was eager to hear people’s reactions, and the feedback I received over the weekend was inspiring and energizing.

The Collections

At my booth, I introduced three distinct collections:

🪲 Insects – A series of A3 collages where vintage insect illustrations come to life on eco-printed paper, enriched with hand-painted acrylic and metallic accents. A balance between botany and scientific imagination.

🍾 Message in a Bottle – A playful and bold series of postcards made with eco-printed paper enhanced by bright fluorescent colors. Vintage bottles from 1950s ads become surreal messages floating between pop culture, irony, and poetic reinterpretation.

📜 Vintage Collection A4 – Three unique pieces created on eco-printed paper, layered with fragments of vintage advertising. These works explore visual memory and the desire to reawaken forgotten languages. Each piece feels like a personal archive, where nature and culture gently intertwine.

All original works were on display, allowing visitors to see the materials, textures, and hand-crafted details up close. Many stayed to ask questions, share reflections, and connect over a shared love of paper, process, and story.

Coffee Clay: Wearable Earthy Tales

In addition to the paper-based works, I also presented a selection of jewelry and pins made from coffee clay—a hand-molded material I create from recycled coffee grounds. Each piece is a small sculpture, organic in form and rich in texture, designed to be worn or gifted as a tactile memory.

Looking Ahead: Pride Art Route

Lepeltje Lepeltje was more than just a festival—it was also a beginning. The three A4 artworks from the Vintage Collection will be part of my upcoming exhibition during the Pride Art Route 2025 at Treehouse NDSM. There, they’ll take on new meaning in a space dedicated to identity, memory, and the body as a living archive.

If you missed the festival, don’t worry—more exhibitions, workshops, and opportunities to engage with this evolving work are just around the corner. Stay connected, and maybe your own message in a bottle is still waiting to be found.