artist portrait
Lynn Spoor
Between Steel, Sea, and Expression
Raised among steel, ships, and the sea, Lynn Spoor (b. 1997) now works from a studio on the Duinlust estate in Overveen. Her work? Dynamic, raw, and always in motion—just like the environment she grew up in.
At twelve, she began drawing lifelike portraits. Inspired by the Old Masters, she started by capturing emotion with pencil and paper. But true to her nature, Lynn soon sought more freedom. She broke loose, swapped her pencils for palette knives and large canvases, and embraced color and abstraction as her signature.
Today, she channels her own complexity into bold layers of paint. Her work breathes energy, emotion, and positivity: often vivid and colorful, sometimes restrained in black and white or earthy tones. And sometimes quite literally—Lynn travels the world and mixes sand, marble dust, or dried flowers from her favorite places directly into her paint. Each canvas carries a piece of her journey.
1. What are some unexpected places you find inspiration?
“It’s really in the small, often broken things I come across. A rusty container with peeling paint on the street. Something worn down—marked by time. I can look at that endlessly. There's a beauty in it that fascinates me. It wasn’t made to be beautiful, and maybe that’s exactly why it is.
Right now, for example, I’m photographing rusted objects—just because I want to capture and preserve them. But I also get a lot of energy from conversations with other makers—even (or especially) when their work is completely different from mine. If we share a way of seeing or thinking, it can really spark something. It opens things up.”
2. Besides abstract expressionism, are there other forms that draw you in?
“I started with realistic portraits at age twelve—black-and-white pencil drawings. Later, I moved into color and transitioned from paper to canvas. Eventually, my work became more and more abstract. But sculpture is also starting to fascinate me—those organic forms and materials, I might want to explore that further. I also really love street art—for its rawness and the way it pops up in unexpected places.”
3. Which artist inspires you? Who is your all-time favorite, and why?
“I get a lot of inspiration from other artists. I go to fairs like Frieze and Art Basel, and visit museums frequently. I love Rothko—his color palettes really speak to me, even though his work is much more minimalistic than mine. I also admire Anselm Kiefer, especially for his use of materials and the depth in his work. That last exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum was truly impressive.”
4. Is there a piece where you felt most connected to your own style and story? One that was hard to part with?
“One piece that meant a lot to me was Amor, inspired by Portofino. It used to hang in our kitchen, right where the sunlight would hit it beautifully. That work held so many memories—of the place, of my fiancé Niels, of cozy dinners at home. When someone from Wisconsin wanted to buy it, I sold it—but yes, that did hurt a bit. Thankfully, they sent me photos of it in its new home, which gave me some closure.”
5. Is there an emotion or theme you consistently return to when creating?
“Always nature—that’s my foundation. And travel—discovering new places. I often work from locations where I’ve felt something. That might be something raw, like the inland of Ibiza, or something soft and serene, like the lavender fields of southern France.”
