Mariet Braakman (1944-2021)

A retrospective exhibition of Braakman’s work, Land of Memories, will take place March 2 - April 6, 2024, with a public opening reception & book signing on Sunday, March 3 from 1:00-4:00. The full catalog of Braakman’s available work is available by request. A monograph on the artist’s life and work is now available: Mariet Braakman: Life and Work of a Painter, by Bernard Braakman. To reserve your copy, please email the gallery, or place an order at blurb.com/bookstore.

Mariet Braakman was indelibly influenced by the places she lived. Growing up in The Netherlands, known for its low lying and remarkably flat geography, Mariet became intrigued by mountainous landscapes from an early age. She always closely observed the landscapes around her, from her time living in France and Brazil, traveling extensively to China and Japan, and from her residence in the East Bay hills. Her imaginary landscapes were inspired by authentic vistas, sometimes deconstructed or abstracted.

Her work evokes the majesty of the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and the visceral graphic quality of land art. Her admiration for Cy Twombly, Agnes Martin and Sol LeWitt is evident in her work. Her dramatic color palette reminds us the earth is alive and survives cycles of drought, seismic shock, and wildfire continually. Mariet’s compositions can be read as topographical maps, vistas, or biographical symbolism reflecting her battle with cancer, and dismay with our increasingly divided society.

Mariet received a BA in education and a BA in fine arts. Professionally, Mariet served as a high school art teacher and art instructor for adults and children from 1979 until 1983 when she emigrated from The Netherlands. She was an active member of Berkeley Art Center Association and showed her work widely across the Bay Area for over a decade. Her work was recognized by influential curators and gallerists including Carin Adams, DeWitt Cheng, Catharine Clark, Aimee Friberg, Jenny Gheith, René de Guzman, Stephanie Hanor, Carrie Lederer, Faith J. McKinnie, Lucía Sanromán, Thea Quiray Tagle, and Katrina Traywick in over a dozen juried shows.

Mariet Braakman, The Void in the Unknown 9 -10 (diptych), 2021, acrylic on canvas, two 48 x 48 inch panels, $16,000