My name is Jessy Rensink and I am a visual artist and classicist. After studying illustration at the art academy of Utrecht (HKU) for two years, I decided to switch to classics, in which I obtained an MA degree in 2024 and an MA in teaching as 2025. After working as a teacher of Greek and Latin at a Dutch high school for three years, I moved to Rome to focus on making art in the city that I love so much, following lessons in oil painting (in style of Antonello da Messina) and drawing, painting and making everything that should be made.
In my work I am interested in classical antiquity; making art is for me the perfect way to reflect on my relationship to the classics, on the one hand always intruiged by its beauty, on the other hand wanting to break away from it, and the oppressiveness and elitism of this tradition. The form my work takes on is broad, ranging from drawing to making puppets to oil painting, whatever the project demands. I like to follow my intuition on this, never commiting to one style or medium and always experimenting and discovering new ways.
Next to my autonomous work I also take commisions, for illustrational work (think: book illustrations and covers, posters, gifts). On this website you'll also find examples of my commissioned work.
Since 2022 I am connected to Oogappel Gallery (www.oogappel.xyz), a gallery for young artists that is located at de Olmenhorst.
In 2025 I was able to do artistic research in Florence for five weeks, thanks to het Philologisch Studiefonds. During this stay I researched the renaissance influence on our contemporary view of 'the classical'.
An overview of some exhibitions in which I participated:
-KLASSIEK?! (2025) Solo exhibition @ Fioretti college Lisse
-Dag van Rome (2025) @ Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
-Olmenhorst Art Festival (2025) @ Olmenhorst
-het Creatieve Klokhuis van de Olmenhorst (2024) @ Oogappel Galerie
-Kultuurmakersgala (2024) @ makerscentrale
-Get Lost festival (2019) @ Scheltema (with art collective ROEM)
-Beeldklank (2018) @ het Huis van Betekenis
PS. my favourite colours are red and golden cypress
Thank you!