Reclaiming yourself.

Artist - Ole Aakjær

When we first discovered this artist, it was this piece that caught our eye. It’s powerful message spoke to us and we wanted to know more.

Ole Aakjær (b. 1962) is a Copenhagen-based, internationally-renowned watercolor and ink artist best known for large-format, highly symbolic works that celebrate the power of women. His distinct figurative paintings rely on bold colors and symbols to convey deep psychological empathy, while exploring the complexity and strength of their subjects.

Aakjær portrays women as vulnerable yet empowered, sensual, fearless, seductive, and independent. Ornate ink work comes into play with tattoos often sprawled across the face, neck, shoulders, and upper body. Text and characters, inspired by music, literature, poetry, film, religion, psychology, and cartoons are painstakingly applied with ink and allude to the woman’s mysterious thoughts and feelings.

While this piece has sold, he has so much more. He has created more series, showcasing most recently in New York.

Follow him @oleaakjaer

See more of this series here.

Twinquiry: Many of us are forced to reclaim ourselves as we age. It is perhaps one of the hardest things to do after spending years defining yourself by work or how society views you. Do you have a story of reclaiming your identity? Tell us here.