Rafaella Witteman

Born in 1995 in Voorburg, Netherlands, Rafaella Witteman developed a fascination with nature from an early age. She pursued her passion for art at the HKU in Utrecht, where she refined her skills and deepened her exploration of memory and nature in her work. Inspired by the poetry of Mary Oliver and the intricate detail in Anouk Griffioen’s large-scale works, she combines these influences with her own intuitive approach to painting. Her technique involves translating the imagery and sensations of nature directly from her mind to the canvas. She strives to depict the entire experience of a moment, such as the sensation of grass against her legs, the air shifting as she turns, and the sky darkening. 

For Best of Graduates 2024, Rafaella presents a series of paintings that explore the intricate relationship between memory and nature. Witteman’s work explores how thoughts, scents, and sensations from nature are translated into visual forms. Her paintings are not just representations of landscapes but are infused with personal memories and emotions, capturing her experiences in the Dutch landscape. Witteman’s process involves painting from memory, allowing her to create pieces that are both personal and universally evocative.