About the ArtistArtist Théo Schildkamp seeks his inspiration outside of everyday reality and within the images of dream and fantasy. All elements in his paintings are taken from reality, remaining recognizable; however, by removing them from the usual environment and placing them in an unusual context, an alienating effect is created. In this way, he paints realistic-appearing scenes that evoke a mysterious and enigmatic atmosphere, a world between fantasy and reality. His compositions therefore show great affinity with surrealism, magical realism, and symbolism. The women who figure in this world are personifications of abstract concepts—those of love, loneliness, decay, impermanence, fate, beauty, or vanitas. They dominate paintings that are full of symbolism, often ironic, sometimes slightly absurd, always narrative, and always aesthetic. BiographyOriginally from Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, Théo graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts. He had a flourishing and successful professional practice as an illustrator, designer, and publicist in his studio in the French Provence. Now back in Holland, he devotes himself entirely to painting. He prefers to paint with acrylics in a figurative, narrative, and symbolic style. Théo has consistently exhibited his work in galleries and art shows around the world for decades, most recently in France, Taiwan, Germany, The Netherlands, and the US. He is pleased to be a welcomed artist in Gallery of Modern Masters in Sedona, Arizona, and is also currently on exhibition at Gallery Ateleirspuren in Meppen, Germany.