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I hold my breath, close my eyes, yet I’m observing.
Trying to connect to it’s beauty instead of reality.”

About

Sjoukje van Gool (1982) grew up in the Netherlands, surrounded by nature: water and woods. The images, sensations and colours of these remain deeply ingrained in her being, and are reflected in her work. 

Her photographs are pulsing, and speak mainly about what isn’t seen. She captures reality as she sees and feels it: a dreamt world that can be anywhere, any time. She questions life from within, and uses nature, and especially water as her ­metaphor. She is specialized in underwater photography and runs her own Underwater Studio in The Netherlands.

Characteristic for her work is the use of intense ­colours. Sjoukje believes colour has the ability, just like music, to go directly into the brain, without judgement. As a pure sense. 

Because of her love for less common, and sometimes rare woods, Sjoukje designs and makes her own frames. By selecting the wood herself, mostly from the residual material in the wood shops, she has full control over the color and pattern of the wood. This gives each frame its own character, and turns the artwork into a unique object. Some of her preferred woods to work with are: zebra wood, coromondel, pockwood, maple, and walnut.

Sjoukje van Gool

Exhibitions

2024
Unknown Gallery, Amsterdam
NockNock Art Fair, Amsterdam
TUUN, Amsterdam
Lens&Canvas, Den Haag
New Chapter Studio Amsterdam
Café L’Affiche, Amsterdam

2023
NockNock Art Fair, Amsterdam

2022
Flower Art Museum, Aalsmeer
Underwater Exposition, Halfweg
Bogota, Halfweg

2020
Camping Buitenland, Nieuw Amsterdam

2019
CBKamer Amsterdam

2018
HowitStarts Gallery, Utrecht

2015
Catta’s Studio Shop

2013
Re-Frame Festival
PUP-gallery, RAUWER

2012
Sophie Maree, My Private View
Fotomuseum, Den Haag
Galerie Fotogram, Amsterdam
Fotogalerie Rotterdam, Eindhoven
Bang Bang, Loods 6, Amsterdam
Centre of Being

2011
Fotomuseum, Den Haag
Galerie Fotogram, Amsterdam
Fotogalerie Rotterdam, Antwerpen,
Eindhoven, Groningen

Awards, nominations & special mentions

Fine Art Photography Award Nominee | 2022
Category: Nudes nominee | Series: Ballet of Life

Fine Art Photography Award Nominee | 2018
Category: Fine art | Series: Flores 

Fine Art Photography Award Nominee | 2018
Category: Open Theme | Series: Dancing the Light

Photoacademy award 2012 3e overall prize

Photoacademy award 2012 winner Sophie Maree Gallery

The Photo Academy Award 2012, nominee VICE

IPA 2012 (Int’l photography awards), Honorable Mentions

Categories: Fine Art, Nudes and Fine Art, Other _ FA

The Photo Academy Award 2011 Nomination 

GUP New Talent 2011

Collections

Unit, Kahmann Gallery,
Slangen Advocaten, Vondelpark Hotel