ABOUT
The work of Claire Koopal is defined by simplicity and clarity: clean lines, bold shapes, and distinct colors. Beneath this visual directness lies a deeper focus. Each piece originates from the internal tension that exists within an emotion. Her practice explores the complexity hidden within feelings that might initially appear straightforward.
Through her work, Koopal creates recurring characters that inhabit minimal yet expressive worlds. These figures often appear playful, even naïve, while carrying an undercurrent of vulnerability and emotional conflict. This contrast - between innocence and depth, lightness and intensity - forms a central thread throughout her work.
In addition to her two-dimensional practice, Koopal is expanding into sculpture. She is currently developing a three-dimensional version of one of her recurring characters: a bright pink rabbit. Rather than a departure from her existing work, this shift into sculpture reinforces it. By bringing her characters into physical space, the emotional message embedded in her two-dimensional work becomes more tangible and direct. The transition to three dimensions strengthens the clarity of her visual language, allowing the viewer to engage with the work in a more immediate and embodied way.
Koopal’s approachable, almost childlike aesthetic invites a broad audience into her work. What at first appears friendly and simple reveals layered meanings upon closer inspection. In this way, her work balances accessibility with emotional depth, offering space for recognition, curiosity, and reflection. This notion of reflection is further emphasized in her sculptural practice, where mirrored surfaces quite literally confront the viewer with their own image. By incorporating reflective finishes, Koopal reinforces the central themes in her work: self-reflection and the internal struggles tied to human emotion, inviting viewers to see themselves within the narrative.
BACKGROUND
Claire grew up in a small village in the Netherlands during the 90’s, with a mother working in education and a father who served in the army. In a village with few distractions, she found an early refuge in drawing, using pen and paper to construct her own imagined worlds. Creativity ran naturally through her family: her grandmother ran a fashion school, while her grandfather was a gifted draftsman.
From an early age, Claire came to use drawing as a way to explore emotion and articulate her relationship to the world. This sense of layering continues to inform her work, in which playfulness and vulnerability exist side by side.
Claire graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2011. After her studies, she worked for several years as a designer within the high-end hospitality industry, alongside commissioned narrative work. Today, she focuses on the development of her autonomous practice, within which she creates both independent work and commissioned projects. Her work is informed by interests in interior design, architecture, everyday observations, and artists such as Tim Burton, Tim Walker, Mark Rothko, Jheronimus Bosch, and Fiep Westendorp.
