Maurille de Smalen (b. 1970) is a Dutch abstract expressionist artist based in the Netherlands.

Raised surrounded by artists — her mother, the neighbours, friends, the studios down the street with their smell of paint and endless possibilities — she stepped inside an art studio as a child and knew. This is how you can live. That feeling never left.

After four degrees across art, fashion, audiovisual design and fine art education, and living in London and Paris, working with some of the most influential names in fashion — Martin Margiela, Lidewij Edelkoort, Peclers Paris, Nelly Rhodi, Trend Union — designing textiles and running her own label and fashion agency, she returned to what was always waiting. Painting.

Her work is large-scale, layered, bold and fragile at once. Wild gestures and quiet discoveries. Colour as a first language. Mark making and details as proof that someone was here. She values spontaneity, improvisation, intuition, and aleatory and automated techniques. She created bold and fragile; she does not follow imposed rules. Her process is an exploration of balance between raw, bold, unexpected colours, shapes and the calm, fragile marks, all of which reflect the ongoing search to be wild and free.

Her work is highly intuitive and provides room to find one’s own story.

Maurille attended HKU School of the Arts in Utrecht the Netherlands. Here she studied Audiovisual Design, Fashion Design and Art Education. She also holds a Master’s in Arts, studying both in Winchester, at the Winchester School of the Arts (University of Southampton), UK and in Paris, France at the Institute Français de la Mode.

In Paris she studied under Didier Grunbach, the director of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. After a successful career in fashion, working with and for renowned fashion houses designing textiles, set up her own children’s brands, and running a fashion agency, Maurille is now solely focusing on her art, writing, and illustrating. Her work is still heavily influenced by her previous career, particularly the use of colour and textures.

Currently, she lives in the Dutch countryside.

Education & Professional Experience (a selection)

• Ongoing since 1999 - Art Educator at University and Art Schools.

• 2012 Bachelor in Art Education (Fine Art), specialised in Creativity and Resistance. Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht. (The Netherlands)

• 1999-2013 Owner of private Fashion Label & Fashion Agency, trendwatcher and textile designer for Parisian Haute-Couture and agencies. London (United Kingdom, Paris (France)

• 1999 Master of Arts in Fashion Design, University of Southampton (United Kingdom)& Fashion Business, Institut Français de La Mode (France)

• 1998 Bachelor Fashion Design, specialised in Styling and Fabric design. Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht

• 1994 Bachelor Audiovisual Art, specialised in Narrative and Image. Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht (The Netherlands)

Shows, Work & Publications (a selection)

  • 2026 June, Curated group exhibition Arrival Gallery Amsterdam

  • 2025 Member of the Houten Art Collective, The Netherlands.

  • 2025 Illustrated, written en published children’s book “WILD”, about being yourself in a world that wants you to be the same.

  • 2025 30-day project - wrote a book about resistance

  • 2024 Private show “your eyes only” Utrecht, The Netherlands.

  • 2024 Launched “The Path” online course. Overcome fear to create.

  • 2022 Creative Mornings - Exercise book for creative rising.

  • 2020 Published “Origin” the essence of ideation.

  • 2011 Published “Share your creativity” Hand me down book.

  • 2010 Solo Expo. Anatomy of a crash. Haute Couture Dolls.

  • 2009 Published “Let’s play” Illustration book

  • 2009 Kleine Fabriek, Amsterdam. Jack Rabbit Spring.

  • 2008 Kleine Fabriek, Amsterdam.Jack Rabbit Spring & Lille Bo

  • 2007 Kleine Fabriek, Amsterdam.Jack Rabbit Spring & Lille Bo

  • 2007 Hypermarket, Japan.Jack Rabbit Spring & Lille Bo

  • 2005 Kleine Fabriek, Amsterdam. Jack Rabbit Spring & Lille Bo

  • 2004 Solo Exhibition, Thread and Sweat. Amerongen. The Netherlands

  • 2000-2003 Trend Union, Textile work, Paris, France

  • 1999 Lidewij Edelkoort, Textile work, Paris, France

  • 1999-2003 Pecler Paris, Textile work, Paris, France

  • 1999-2003 Nelly Rhodi, Textile work. Paris, France

  • 1998 Group Exhibition Purple Intsitute, Paris France

  • 1997 Group Exhibition, Marquis of Bath Estate, Bath. UK