About Ina

Visual artist Ina Kortstee (1966) lives and works in the historic center of ‘s-Hertogenbosch. In 2012 she decided to combine her scientific career in vaccine research with a part-time study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium. During this study, she discovered her artistic potential as she delved into experimental art forms outside the classical tradition. “It felt like I found a new dimension in myself, a place where I could express my emotional world unimpeded.”

In the summer of 2022, she decided to focus entirely on her artistry and has since been working in her studio on the grounds of the former Great Hospital. Ina’s work is fuelled by observations from everyday life and society, exploring themes of power, powerlessness, equality and inequality. These topics evoke a strong emotional response in her, resulting in an inner urge to depict them. “Turning inward and feeling what is going on inside me, without censoring myself, creates a space in which new insights emerge. For me, art is a form of self-actualisation.”

Her creative process occurs in the moment and is guided by strong intuition. She works with a variety of materials such as paint, charcoal, gouache, cardboard, and even recycled objects such as burlap and plastic. Her use of color and choice of materials reflect the emotional charge of her artwork, which manifests itself in abstract, expressive forms. While acknowledging her classical training, she manages to combine it with a free, contemporary style.

The result is a body of work that can touch deeply and sometimes be confrontational for the viewer. Ina’s art invites reflection and offers the chance to connect with one’s own emotional landscape.