Solo Exhibition - The (Autobiographical) Diaries
Acrylic and pencil on canvas, 80 x 120
Bio
Lieke Steen (Utrecht, 1995) is an illustrator and artistic researcher living in Amsterdam. After pursuing her bachelors in Graphic Design at the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, she got back to what made her want to become a Graphic Designer in the first place: combining drawings with poetry. During covid she started keeping an illustrative diary, this grew out to become her biggest ongoing project yet: The (Autobiographical) Diaries.
“finding comfort in the re-imagination of the personal. Creating a pure perspective on myself and my world through the intimate practice of self-portrayal.”
The (Autobiographical) Diaries - 2020 — Now
To reflect, rejuvinate and reintegrate my thoughts as an artist, I keep a physical diary I use as my daily art practice. In this practice, I use my surroundings as a mirror for percieving the world through artistic research. It is through this autobiographical reference that I gain knowledge about myself, the world around me, and my perspective on it. These diaries contain writings, illustration, self- portraits, photos and more. I curate these thoughts, texts, photos and illustrations as a meditative practice to reflect and heal by making connections. It helps me cope. This is the first ever curated exhibition of the autobiographical diaries.
Born from these diaries was my biggest self portrait on canvas yet. It questions (cultural) identity; what sorrow, love, stories, memories, items, families, foods and things make us who we are today? How much influence do we have on these things? In any case, they are, and will always be, part of us, carried through life.
Ink on pink paper, framed in glass
108 x 148 mm
Brand Identity - Amsterdam Artistica
On October 27th of 2024, the city of Amsterdam will exist for exactly 750 years. The Cuban band SonPaTí celebrates this with the unique project 'Amsterdam Artística', an ode to the city. For this special performance they asked six top Latin American musicians from Amsterdam to write a piece for SonPaTí with the theme 'Amsterdam'.
The compositions vary in musical style; from Cuban son and Colombian cumbia to Dominican pambiche. The pieces show 6 different perspectives on the city such as; gentrification, the black history of slave trade, and the phenomenon of bicycles. Together, it beautifully highlights the versatility of Amsterdam.
For this brand identity I wanted to combine the Amsterdam lettering of the Berlagebrug, with the typical shapes of the dutch ‘Grachtenpandjes’ as well as the colonial Houses of Havana. Together with a Cuban color palette, The result is a mix between simple shapes, latin american vibes and musical vibrant tones.
Museumplein - an illustration based on the Song of Pedro Luis Pardo Cosme ‘Un Son pa’ Amsterdam’
Nesciobrug, Amsterdam - an illustration based on the song of Marco Antonio Sanchez Ramirez ‘Amsterdam pa’ tí’
Vondelpark, Amsterdam - an illustration based on the song of Ramón Valle ‘Pedaleando en Amsterdam’
Dappermarkt, Amsterdam - an illustration based on the song ‘Para toda mi gente’. Music by Lauriane Ghils / Lyrics by Amber Nijman
De Magere Brug, Amsterdam - an illustration based the song of Jesús Hernandez Corona ‘Amsterdam Artística’ 
A view from the roof, Amsterdam - an illustration based on the Song of Ramón Mendeville ‘Ciudad Ajena’
Art Workshop: ‘Painting without Paint’
Inspired by artist Henri Matisse, I designed an Art Workshop challenging ones creativity by limiting the material; to paint without paint. How? Students get colored paper, scissors and some glue to create a true self portrait within an hour, no pencils allowed! Every workshops creates new insights about the possibilities of collage work; once the material is limited, true creativity is unlocked.
Brand Activation - S. Maria Al Monte
The Italian liqueur brand S. Maria Al Monte asked me to create a quirky and creative brand activation to show off the coffeeliqueur Koffeeshop August uses in their famous Espresso Martini. The paintings will be on show during multiple music Festivals such as Best Kept Secret and Wildeburg.
I found two vintage prints that I customised with paintings to make the story complete: S. Maria’s coffee liqueur has been an icon since the beginnings of time...
on show during Lepeltje Lepeltje Amsterdam
The (autobiographical) Diaries (ongoing project)
Ongoing autonomous project — The (autobiographical) Diaries — mixed media (2020-Now)
“finding comfort in the re-imagination of the personal. Creating a pure perspective on myself and my world through the intimate practice of self-portrayal.”
To reflect, rejuvinate and reintegrate my thoughts as an artist, I keep a physical diary I use in my daily art practice. In this practice, I use my surroundings as a mirror for percieving the world through artistic research. It is through this autobiographical reference that I gain knowledge about myself, the world around us, and my perspective on it. These (autobiographical) diaries contain writings, illustration, self- portraits, photos and more. I post snippits of this work as LikeyStone on my Instagram
Besides this, I keep a multimedial online diary I call ‘soul searching’, where I use not only my illustrations, but different collage techniques where I curate music, texts, photos and illustrations as a meditative practice to reflect and heal.
‘Self Portraits’ as part of the autobiographical diaries - mixed media (2020 - Now)