I’ve been a creative professional for over 25 years, working across photography, graphic design, painting, and digital art. I studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague, where I laid the foundation for a lifelong exploration of visual expression.
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For a decade, I worked independently as a graphic designer and photographer for corporate clients, with my work published in various media. These days, I create art more freely—guided by inspiration rather than commission—using a mix of techniques and materials. My work ranges from colourful digital compositions to tactile, 3D objects, always with curiosity at the core.
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Nature has always been my biggest muse—an artwork in itself. But I also find beauty in urban life, human connection, and the unexpected poetry of everyday things. Whether I'm photographing a flower in my backyard or crafting a surreal digital piece in my studio, I'm always chasing moments of wonder, reflection, and play.
I’m influenced by a wide spectrum of artists and movements: from the quiet power of Ansel Adams and the wit of Martin Parr to the bold statements of Banksy and the elegance of the Dutch Masters. My inspiration also comes from Dada, Pop Art, Street Art, Art Nouveau, Impressionism, Minimalism, and the colourful mess of daily life.
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My art is always evolving, just like I am. Some pieces are bright and uplifting; others are more introspective or socially conscious. What connects them all is my love for creativity, humanity, and life in all its forms.
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AWARDS
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Awards 2024: 2nd place in the category Creative, 2nd place in the category Portraiture and 3rd place in the category Portraiture.
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Award 2023: Honourable mention in the category Creative at the annual local PhotoArt contest/exhibition in Georgetown, Ontario.
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Awards 2022: 1st place in the category Objects & Abstracts, 2nd place in the category Flowers & Foliage and an honourable mention in the category Creative at the annual local PhotoArt contest/exhibition in Georgetown, Ontario.
Awards 2020: 1st place in the category Flowers & Foliage and 2nd place in the category Creative at the annual local PhotoArt contest/exhibition in Georgetown, Ontario.
Awards 2019: 1st place in the category People and an Honourable Mention in the category Scenery at the annual local PhotoArt contest/exhibition in Georgetown, Ontario.
EXHIBITIONS
2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024: PhotoArt, Halton Hills photo competition and exhibition.
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2023: Art for the Birds exhibition, Helson Gallery, Georgetown.
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2022: From Heart to Hand at the Holcim Gallery, FirstOntario Art Centre of Milton.
2022: 'FORMS, FACES & SPACES, figuratively speaking!' exhibition which was part of the Scotiabank CONTACT Festival.
2020: Creative Outlets show at the Helson Gallery, Georgetown, Ontario.
2019: Art show with Greg Coman at the Holcim Gallery, FirstOntario Art Centre of Milton, with a large-format black and white landscape photo made with a 60-year-old Primoflex twin lens camera on Agfa Scala film, the only black and white slide film ever made.
2019: Art show at the Helson Gallery in Georgetown Ontario, with ‘Still with Pears’ a classic still life inspired by the Dutch Masters.
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2009: Solo exhibition at gallery Zoetebroodjes in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with the portrait series 'Ubuntu', portraits of young South African children in the township Phillippi, Cape Town, South Africa.
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2010: Solo exhibition with the portrait series ‘Ubuntu’ at the Coffee Company, a well-known coffee shop that supports local artists.
Also, check out my website www.kwaakphotography.com for portrait photography and more.
