Lieke van Kalken is a multidisciplinary artist based in Amsterdam. In her vibrant studio, her artworks breathe, shimmer, and speak. Her creative world is a joyful collision of colour, light, and layered perspectives.
Working under the name lilxlylilxly, she playfully explores the concept of perception. Her work combines silkscreen printing, collage, photography — both digital and analog — and abstract painting. After graduating in Fine Arts and Photography from the Willem de Kooning Academy in 2017, Lieke first worked in commercial photography and design. In 2021, she found her way back to autonomous art.
Through her art, Lieke investigates how we see and feel the world around us. She creates optical illusions, layered textures, and thoughtful juxtapositions. Her themes touch on the healing power of nature, the diversity of human perspective, and the quiet strength of attention. She encourages us to pause, reflect, and discover new angles. Her work has been exhibited internationally and continues to evolve, always celebrating the richness of perception.
Layered Realities,
Optical Play,
A World Seen Differently.
Fuchsia "Lady Gray"
An ode to Annie van Montfort, Lieke’s grandmother, who loved painting flowers. This piece began with her grandmother’s delicate watercolour of a Fuchsia Lady Gray, which Lieke transformed using photography and layers of transparent materials. The result is a new, abstract reality. A poetic conversation between past and present, memory and transformation.
Screen-printed on four layers of recycled acrylic glass in Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black, the colours align like generations do. Layer by layer, forming something whole and vibrant.
Multicolor
An explosion of colour and process. Multicolor features a photograph screen-printed on four separate acrylic plates: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. When layered, the full spectrum comes to life.
This piece began with a childhood drawing Lieke made, a paper collage of a butterfly, inspired by nature. Revisiting her early fascination with the natural world, Multicolor became part of a personal exploration into how she saw the world as a child. It reflects her ongoing search for identity, blending past and present through vibrant layers. A celebration of how things come together — visually, emotionally, and conceptually — revealing depth through transparency.
Paradiseflow
A striking visual dialogue between nature and waste. This digital photograph combines the radiant Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise flower) with collected plastic waste from Lieke’s travels. The flower represents natural splendour; the plastic, human impact. Together, they tell a layered story. An invitation to reflect on sustainability, beauty, and responsibility. Printed on archival pigment paper and mounted on dibond, framed in sustainable ash wood sourced from Dutch soil.
Fuchsia "Gray Lady"
A series close to the heart. This digital print was created from her grandmother’s watercolour of the Fuchsia Gray Lady, photographed through glass and water. The blurred lines and softened tones mimic how memories shift over time.
Part of The Butterfly series, this work explores transformation, grief, and connection. Lieke’s process moves in phases, photographing original pieces, reworking them, and allowing each version to inform the next. Her approach is non-linear: past becomes present, and finished works often become the start of something new. Butterflies often appear in her work as symbols of change, freedom, and her grandmother’s spirit.
The Artist
Bold, playful, and deeply thoughtful. Lieke van Kalken is an artist who brings spaces to life. Her unique use of colour, layered materials, and personal stories turn every artwork into a vibrant experience. Her vision is fresh, inspiring, and unmistakably her own. Whether in a gallery, a home, or a public space, her work adds something truly special.
Discover more on her website or follow her on Instagram to see her beautiful art.
©NOË NÍ 2025.
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