Kristien Aertssen

Kristien Aertssen (b. 1953) introduced a refreshing new style with African and Asian influences in Flemish illustration. Her use of colour is characterised by bright, exotic colours she uses to create atmosphere and emotion in her artwork. She manages to keep her tone light and optimistic throughout, even though that isn’t always the case for the themes she keeps returning to: her books are about relationships and the desire for security, tenderness and recognition.