Maayke Bal

Maayke Bal is a visual artist and psychotherapist from Roermond in the Netherlands. She has been painting throughout her life. Her work, both as an artist and therapist, explores love and attachment, sex and aggression, power, social order, and freedom.

Growing up in a small Dutch village, Bal became aware of inner and interpersonal psychological dynamics early in life. She studied clinical psychology and later management sciences, working primarily in the Dutch prison system as a psychologist and prison director. Throughout her career, she focused on addressing hypocrisy and division between and within individuals.

After major life events, Bal established a private practice and returned to therapy while dedicating more time to creating art. Her artistic and professional work reflects an interest in the balance between inner reality and outer appearance, between natural human needs and social pressure to conform.