Caroline Westerhout Dutch, b. 1970

Caroline Westerhout (Weert, 1970) studied Reproduction Drawing at the Grafisch Lyceum in Eindhoven. After completing her studies, she started working as a graphic designer. Around 2000, she began to explore oil painting, which, through various emotional experiences and practice, resulted in a strong, unique style. Caroline uses this style to study, understand and express emotions, often through her own face.

Caroline Westerhout's oeuvre consists mainly of portraits, but not in the traditional sense of the word. Although she is an avid practitioner and lover of classical painting techniques, she finds it exciting to experiment. This gives her work an undeniably contemporary look. She alternates figuration with raw, abstract elements, playing with deformation and perspective. She also finds it interesting to create a duality in terms of paint texture: refined, realistic parts of the face – eyes and mouths – combined with coarse brushstrokes and less detailed areas. This combination of styles and techniques creates movement, emotion and an exciting sense of alienation.

Through her work, she invites the audience to participate in her analysis of emotions, as she feels and understands them. The viewer is drawn into this quest and finds the answers that suit him or her.