Marij Meijs (1929-2011) - Drie vrouwen

Mary Meijs-Michon (Maastricht, 4 September 1929 – Maastricht, 6 February 2011), working under the name Mary Meijs, was a Dutch painter and textile artist. She studied at the Maastricht Secondary School of Arts and Crafts (1946-1950) as a student of, among others, Harry Koolen. She continued her education at the Jan van Eyck Academy (1951-1952), where she studied under painter Thé Lau. After completing her studies at the academy, she created works in various countries around the world. She traveled extensively and lived for extended periods in South Africa (1958-1961) and Curaçao (1965-1968). The influences of those experiences are visible in her work. In addition to paintings, she also made wall hangings and taught applique. She was married to geographer Leo Meijs. She regularly received commissions and had exhibitions in various galleries at home and abroad (e.g., Willemstad, Curaçao, and her birth and residence Maastricht). Over the years she developed her own style and, through color use, color combinations, and creativity, she left her own mark. This resulted in collaborations with several gallery owners who exhibited her work. She also received commissions. For example, Meijs created several wall hangings for the Hilton Hotel. In 1969 she made a room-sized wall tapestry for the Hilton Hotel in Curaçao, which was part of the exhibition for which Jeanne Bieruma Oosting contributed 150 graphics. One wonders if this included the work Monstrum, from the Visions et Fantômes series, which has decoratively graced our living room for some time. Until 1987 Meijs primarily focused on making wall hangings and batik; after 1987 she transitioned to painting. In June 1989 she held her first painting exhibition in her hometown of Maastricht. Her work was inspired by the works of Karel Appel. Meijs did not paint entirely abstract, though her work approaches it strongly. There are usually recognizable figures to be discovered; for example people, buildings, or animals. The works of Mary Meijs testify to a sense of color and a kinship with nature.