Elisabet Stienstra: Sculpting Female Power Against the Male Gaze
Elisabet Stienstra, a sculptor from the Netherlands born in 1967 in Gasselternijveen, challenges traditional representations of the female form through her art. Among her public installations are 'De Maagden van Apeldoorn' (2001), 'Het Droomtheater' featuring seven bronze figures, and the upcoming 'Trijn Rembrands' set for 2025 in Alkmaar. Her independent pieces, such as 'Virgin of Light' (2011) and 'Virgin of Mercy' (2015), explore themes of female strength and sexuality. Stienstra's education includes time at Academie Minerva (1984-1988) and the Rijksakademie (1988-1990), where she was guided by mentors like Marlene Dumas and Jan Fabre. Inspired by Piero della Francesca’s 'Madonna del Parto' in 1989, her most recent creation, 'Young Witch', portrays a nude woman in dance. She aspires to create 'a meaningful difference' through her work.
Key facts
- Elisabet Stienstra was born in 1967 in Gasselternijveen, Netherlands.
- She studied at Academie Minerva in Groningen (1984-1988) and the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam (1988-1990).
- Her work challenges the male gaze and reinterprets the female nude in sculpture.
- Public commissions include 'De Maagden van Apeldoorn' (2001), 'Het Droomtheater' (Leidsche Rijn), and 'Trijn Rembrands' (Alkmaar, 2025).
- 'Trijn Rembrands' combines stainless steel, bronze, and Pietra Serena to depict a historical and contemporary figure.
- 'Virgin of Light' (2011) is an oak and brass sculpture of a woman exposing her genitals, inspired by Sheela-na-gigs.
- Stienstra was inspired by Piero della Francesca's 'Madonna del Parto' seen in Monterchi, Italy, in 1989.
- Her latest work 'Young Witch' is based on a 12,000 BCE figurine from Göbekli Tepe, Turkey.
Entities
Artists
- Elisabet Stienstra
- Tilman Riemenschneider
- Piero della Francesca
- Marlene Dumas
- Jan Fabre
- Niek Kemps
- Thom Puckey
- Paul de Reus
- Aernout Mik
- Jans Muskee
- Paul Perry
- Sarita Dev
- Connie Dekker
- Berend Strik
- Hans van Houwelingen
- Marijke van Warmerdam
- Rebecca Horn
- Louise Bourgeois
- Pieter Bruegel de Oude
- Alex de Vries
Institutions
- Museum für Franken
- Academie Minerva
- Rijksakademie
- Galerie Fons Welters
- Museum Het Catharijneconvent
- Museum Beelden aan Zee
- LUMC Leiden
- Academie Tien
- Mister Motley
Locations
- Würzburg
- Germany
- Gasselternijveen
- Netherlands
- Amsterdam
- Groningen
- Stadskanaal
- Assen
- Apeldoorn
- Alkmaar
- Leidsche Rijn
- Utrecht
- Leiden
- Monterchi
- Italy
- Tuscany
- Göbekli Tepe
- Turkey
- Pyrenees
- France
- Ireland
- England
- Rome
- Scheveningen
- Curaçao