Pia Lou Velema

My name is Pia Lou, pronouns she/her. I am an Amsterdam born and matriarchal raised 26 yo. My background is in politics of identity, feminism, and environmental justice. My art is new and developing. Most of my experience so far had been in the performing arts, following a long line of musicians and artists. Recently I have been picking up the pencil, brush, needle and thread as a way to cope with processing traumas and found a liberty within it. Now I approach art as my safe space to explore topics of friendship, womanhood, advocacy, and love. I believe in the values of community, commonality, care, and comedy. I think that artistic expression and interpretation is the perfect vessel to connect as people, across cultures and differences. We always try to say so much and want so much understanding from eachother and our selves. I think art can offer ease into that need, and show us ways to bond on the basis of our senses. I believe we owe it to each other to be bold and expressive. We owe it to ourselves to stand up against systems that oppress us and listen to voices that are subdued. Art is liberation.