Lorena Kloosterboer
Lorena Kloosterboer is a Dutch-Argentine artist (born Alkmaar Netherlands, 1962) who paints using trompe-l'œil and photorealistic styles, often creating the illusion of three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface. She is best known for her hyperrealist still life paintings of "idiosyncratic" compositions made of glass and porcelain pieces. Her paintings have been exhibited and awarded in several countries worldwide. As a sculptor Kloosterboer has created a number of bronze pieces which are displayed in public in the city of Wassenaar. Also, the artist has published several books on painting techniques. Career. Kloosterboer studied fine arts  at the Instituto de Bellas Artes Beato Angélico in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She later attended art classes and workshops for several years at Scottsdale Artist's School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Kloosterboer painting subjects include a wide variety of objects like colorful candies, marbles, shells, silverware, glass and ceramics. An evolving series of Kloosterboer's paintings entitled "Tempus ad Requiem (‘Time to Rest’ in Latin)" depicts still lifes with birds. "This series of still lifes featuring birds perched on ceramic or glass objects symbolizes the need for a time and a place to rest, to come to terms with life’s  hurdles and replenish our energies". Sculptures. In 1991 Kloosterboer unveiled her first bronze sculpture representing a jester officially named "De Nar". It was commissioned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of a Dutch carnival group: "De Deylknotsen". This jester is on public display at De Warenar, the official cultural center in Wassenaar. During the following years Kloosterboer also created a commissioned series of four bronze sculptures popularly known as "De Boomstronken" (The Tree Trunks), which are on public display in Wassenaar. Color illustrations of these pieces and their locations are shown in the book "Beeldend Wassenaar" offering hiking and biking trails  leading past the visual arts in Wassenaar. Critique. Kloosterboer's artwork has been favourably reviewed and included among other artists in a book on the history of women painters in the Low Countries authored by Art Historian Professor Katlijne van der Stighelen. Some of Kloosterboer's paintings from her time in the USA are included in a published essay on Trompe L'Oeil in America, by Kevin Sharp. Also, some of her realist paintings were included in Acrylic Artist's Guide to Exceptional Colour (by Lexi Sundell) chosen to illustrate fundamental aspects of color such as temperature, intensity and brightness. Media  articles and interviews dealing with Kloosterboer's artwork are available from other sources. Exhibitions. Kloosterboer's paintings have been exhibited in many countries including Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Some recent exhibits including her paintings are: Kloosterboer's work was also exhibited in 2010, (J. Willot Gallery, Palm Desert, CA), 2008 (Tempe Center for The Arts, Tempe, AZ ), 2008 (Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, 112th Annual Exhibition, New York, NY), and 2007 (Gallery Fraga, Bainbridge Island, WA), Awards. Below is a partial list of awards won by the  artist.