Marieke de Waard is a Dutch-American mixed-media artist whose work explores the relationship between architecture, landscape, and place. Drawing inspiration from her own photography and often incorporating found materials, she creates works that examine the connections between the built and natural environments. Her work is characterized by a strong sense of composition, a careful and sensitive use of color, and an exceptional eye for the interplay of structure, shadow, and light.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, Marieke has developed a distinctive artistic vision shaped by life and work across Europe, North America, and Asia. Trained in the Netherlands, she has lived in France, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, and the United States. These experiences have enriched her work through exposure to diverse architectural traditions, landscapes, and cultures, while reinforcing an approach rooted in observation, composition, and a strong sense of place.
Marieke’s work has been exhibited in solo and juried exhibitions throughout the United States and internationally. Her paintings have received numerous awards and honors, including Purchase Awards from Penn State University and the Reading Museum, an Honorable Mention from the National Watercolor Society, and recognition in Singapore’s prestigious UOB Painting of the Year Competition. Her work has been acquired by private collectors as well as institutional collections.
Alongside her studio practice, Marieke has made a lasting contribution to arts education and community engagement. She has taught art in schools, museums, and community programs, including Houston’s renowned Glassell School of Art and the Craft Center at the University of California, Davis. From 2010 to 2013, she co-founded and directed Art-Is-Davis, a cooperative gallery in Davis, California, creating exhibition opportunities for regional artists and helping to strengthen the city’s vibrant arts community.
Marieke received her formal art training at the Tilburg Academy of Fine Arts in the Netherlands and later earned a Master’s degree in Art Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
Marieke lives and works in Davis, California.