Martje Lammigje "Maya" Wildevuur (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɑrtɕə ˈlɑmɪxjə ˈmaːjaː ˈʋɪldəvyːr]; 24 July 1944 – 11 April 2023) was a Dutch painter. She began making art professionally with flower arrangements and silk landscape collages. She founded art galleries in 1984 and 1992, the former becoming the subject of a long legal battle with her son. She is recognized for her use of bold, contrasting colors in her paintings.
Maya Wildevuur | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 24 July 1944  Deventer |
| Died | 11 April 2023 (aged 78) Midwolda |
| Occupation | Painter, textile artist |
| Website | http://www.mayawildevuur.nl/ |
Biography
editMartje Lammigje Wildevuur was born in Deventer on 24 July 1944.[1] She attended the AKI Academy for Art & Design (then the Academy for Art and Industry), and founded Maya's kunstnijverheid ("Maya's arts and crafts"), a company that sold flower arrangements.[2] She married early in life to an abusive husband.[3][4] After her husband was involuntarily committed, she was forced to raise her children as a single mother, and was unable to get a divorce until laws changed in 1973.[3] Shortly after her divorce, she became sick, resulting in paralysis. Her sons were sent to a boarding school while she recovered.[3][4]
During the early 1980s, Wildevuur made silk collages of English landscapes.[1] Her work at this time became successful enough for her to be able to create art full time. She remarried in 1983 and moved to Hooghalen with her new husband.[3] The next year, she established the Galerie Maya Wildevuur,[5] where she exhibited her work and the works of other artists.[1] The opening exhibition was successful; it was opened by Ad Oele and saw a high turnout.[6]
Wildevuur moved to the Ennemaborgh in Midwolda in 1992 and opened a second art gallery.[3] Her son took over operations of her first gallery after she moved, with eventual disagreements prompting years of legal battles between mother and son.[7] Disputes about their art loan program eventually led to a 2016 court order mandating that Wildevuur pay her son €15,000.[8] She became her husband's caretaker after he was diagnosed with dementia. Her husband died on 15 October 2015.[9] Wildevuur died on 11 April 2023, at the age of 78.[2][10]
Style
editWildevuur's paintings are primarily of flowers and landscapes,[3][5] though animals, clowns, and portraits are also common subject matter.[5] She painted the portraits of many prominent Dutch figures, including King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Paul van Vliet.[1][10] Wildevuur's style is known for its strong and contrasting colors[5][4] and its distinct shapes.[10] Among her inspirations was Emil Nolde, whom she appreciated for his use of color.[4] She described her painting as a way to seek happiness while undergoing difficulty and a way to express herself without having to speak.[3] Her fashion reflected her art style, and she was known for dressing in prominent colors. She is closely identified with her flower bouquet headpieces and her blue eye shadow.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Maya Wildevuur overleden" [Maya Wildevuur has died]. Westerwolde Actueel (in Dutch). 11 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Kunstenares Maya Wildevuur (78) uit Midwolda overleden" [Artist Maya Wildevuur (78) from Midwolda has died]. AD.nl. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Buitenga, Alice (11 April 2023). "Maya Wildevuur (78) overleden: haar leven was soms een nachtmerrie, maar de sprookjes overheersten" [Maya Wildevuur (78) has died: her life was sometimes a nightmare, but the fairy tales prevailed]. RTV Noord (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Brouwer, Marijke (11 April 2023). "In memoriam Maya Wildevuur (78) | Haar verschijning was even kleurrijk als haar werk. Ze schilderde zoals ze leefde: uitbundig" [In memoriam Maya Wildevuur (78) | Her appearance was as colorful as her work. She painted as she lived: exuberantly]. Dagblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Kunstenares Maya Wildevuur (78) overleden" [Artist Maya Wildevuur (78) has died]. RTV Drenthe (in Dutch). 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ Timmer, Sophie (31 October 2020). "Drenthe Toen Archief: Van gehuurd landhuis tot succesvolle galerie Wildevuur". RTV Drenthe (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ "Maya Wildevuur daagt zoon en partner voor rechter" [Maya Wildevuur takes son and partner to court]. RTV Noord (in Dutch). 17 September 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ "Kunstenares Maya Wildevuur moet zoon 15.000 euro betalen" [Artist Maya Wildevuur must pay son 15,000 euros]. RTV Drenthe (in Dutch). 16 June 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ "Echtgenoot Maya Wildevuur overleden" [Maya Wildevuur's husband has died]. De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 17 October 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "Kunstenares Maya Wildevuur overleden" [Artist Maya Wildevuur has died]. OldambtNu.nl (in Dutch). 11 April 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
Further reading
edit- Wildevuur, Maya; Timmer, Sophie; Wijnbeek, Aranka (2010). De wereld van Maya Wildevuur (in Dutch). [S.l.]: D33 publicaties. ISBN 978-94-90470-05-0. OCLC 682552451.
- Beek, Wim van der; De Cnodder, Remi; ASK (1991). Maya Wildevuur (in Dutch). Venlo: Van Spijk. ISBN 90-6216-415-3. OCLC 906645129.