Atelier Overzee
Linda Overzee's portable fresco mural paintings, and "In Situ" commissions.
My work explores the depths of human experience through contemporary fresco paintings on linen canvas. Drawing from age-old traditions, I construct each piece through multiple layers of pure oxides, pigments and lime, following recipes that reach back through centuries. This ancient technique becomes a metaphor for the human condition - each layer representing moments, experiences, and choices that shape who we become.
The compositions emerge through a deliberate embrace of happenstance and imperfection, moving fluidly between complete abstraction and works where recognizable forms surface through the layers. Like archaeological fragments or weathered frescoes discovered on ancient walls, these forms—architectural echoes, geometric shapes, organic traces—appear and recede within the textured surface. Some works speak in color and texture alone; others reveal glimpses of structure, space, and form. All share the same foundational language of layered construction, where the process requires both intention and surrender.
As layers interact and transform, they create unexpected textures and patterns, mirroring how our lives are shaped by both conscious decisions and unplanned circumstances. The fresco technique itself enforces a kind of acceptance—each layer dries with its own character, creating surfaces that cannot be fully controlled or predicted.
I draw upon classical mythology in titling each piece. These references serve not as literal inspirations but as bridges to universal human experiences - hope, adversity, courage, beginnings, and endings. Just as ancient myths continue to resonate through time, these works speak to timeless aspects of the human journey.
Whether abstract or containing recognizable elements, each work invites the viewer to bring their own narrative, finding reflections of their own experiences in the interplay of texture, color, and form. The finished pieces stand as mirrors, inviting contemplation of how we are all constructed, layer by layer, through time and experience.
