ISABELLE VAN ZEIJL

3 - 28 February 2021

In a contemporary art world that condemns beauty as camouflage for conceptual shallowness, championing high esthetics is nothing short of rebellion.

For Isabelle van Zeijl beauty is a necessity, an antidote to everyday drudgery and a source of inspiration. It is at the surface as well as at the heart of her art. Taking her cue from the Old Masters and cutting edge fashion, Van Zeijl creates striking portraits. In these, she combines recognisable historic poses with the unconventional and often ambiguous use of contemporary garments. She composes her photographs digitally using painterly techniques and sensitivity. The result is somewhat haunting and otherworldly, but always retains its sense of authenticity.

Van Zeijl is both model and maker, both object and subject. However, her work goes beyond the realm of individual expression that is so common in the genre of self-portraiture. It strives to be both universal and timeless, with a gentle political twist, though. By circumventing the male gaze she effectively empowers the idea of a female beauty that is of and for itself.
- Isabelle van Zeijl, Youth, 2016
- Isabelle van Zeijl, You & I, 2016
- Isabelle van Zeijl, I Am I, 2019
- Isabelle van Zeijl, I Am II, 2019
"Isabelle is an extraordinarily talented fine-art photographer whose artwork subverts conventional ideals of female beauty which is a theme we feel very passionate about at Harper's Bazaar."

- Frances Hedges, associate editor Harper's Bazaar UK
- Isabelle van Zeijl, Be, 2019
- Isabelle van Zeijl, Own, 2019
- Isabelle van Zeijl, The New Me, 2019
- Isabelle van Zeijl, She Is Here, 2019
"A special Snoecks for special times, you should not expect less from Snoecks 2021. We opted for hope and courage for both coverities, with penetrating portraits of Isabelle van Zeijl. A contemporary artist which exhibit an idiosyncratic and critical view of beauty ideals and its representation in art history."

- Geert Stadieus, Editor in Chief Snoecks
- Isabelle van Zeijl, She Is, 2018
- Isabelle van Zeijl, For Me, 2019
During the COVID-19 crisis, Dutch Fine Art Photographer Isabelle van Zeijl visited local flower growers to explore how she could shine a light on an industry that is suffering an 80% loss of income. The growers were keen on a collaboration with Van Zeijl with one grower suggesting that "life is cyclical, like nature. After every difficulty there is always ease. We choose to share, collaborate in order to grow together."
Isabelle Van Zeijl has shown work continuously and internationally over the past fifteen years, represented by galleries located in The UK, USA, The Netherlands, Belgium, and exhibiting at emerging and established international art fairs in New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, London, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Italy. She was nominated for the Prix De La Photographie Paris, and The Fine Art Photography Awards. She was also one of the winners of The Young Masters Emerging Women Art Prize, London. Her work is held in private & public collections in the USA, UK, Belgium, Germany, France and The Netherlands.

Isabelle Van Zeijl is represented internationally by Cynthia Corbett Gallery.

For all sales enquiries please contact Cynthia Corbett, Gallery Founder & Director, at
info@thecynthiacorbettgallery.com

Installation views, photo credits Cristina Schek