About Diana

Diana was born in 1972 and grew up near Amsterdam. She studied mathematics and computer science and worked as a mathematical modeler for many years. 

At the end of 2020 her daughter researched junk art for her final exams and came up with the idea to recreate Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring using “leftovers” she could find around the house. Mother and daughter worked closely together in this process of collecting, sorting and gluing the hundreds of pieces. They were touched by the result and a new passion was born. “Just like with my old job I enjoy the puzzle of finding the right piece and get it in the right place.” 

For her work she uses anything of the right size, shape and color like plastic toys, beads, buttons, logo pieces, shells and plastic caps. None of the objects are painted to change their original color. She gets many of her objects from family and friends, buys them in charity shops or finds them on the street. With this material she replicates the most famous paintings and portraits. 

Diana’s work should be seen from two viewing positions, from a distance to recognize the image and standing close to identify the materials. The work consists of so many objects that you discover something new every time you look at it. 

“Other people’s junk is a treasure to me and with my art I hope to awake people in this throwaway society and invite them to look beyond the material utility of everyday items before thrown away.”