Maike van Wijk
Biography:
Maike van Wijk was born in the Netherlands and lived in Germany prior to moving the United States. After pursuing a Journalism degree and an MBA in International Management Maike moved to Evanston, IL. In 2009, Maike began using pigmented beeswax with resin (encaustics) in her collage work. She launched Maike’s Marvels in 2011. A wax and wire class in 2012 led to the creation of a jewelry line. Maike’s collage work has been exhibited at the Evanston Art Center, The Art Center-Highland Park, Morpho Gallery, ARC Gallery and Studio 303 at the Zhou B Art Center.
Artist Statement:
Maike’s Marvels offers one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry and home adornments. Steel wire is hand-bent into organic and abstract shapes, and embellished with waxed paper, beads or other meaningful items. The pendants, earrings, necklaces and bracelets have been described as “worlds within themselves.” Exploring the organic process of reheating pigmented wax and fusing collage materials such as handmade paper, word imagery and stamped images into it gives Maike a sense of freedom and joy. Bending industrial-strength wire into news shapes leads to a symbiosis of the wire’s properties and the creator’s vision.