In her paintings and sculptures, Milou Laroussiyen (The Netherlands, 2004) creates a personal visual diary through which she explores her history. Her work is a reflection of what remains of the memories of the people around her, as well as her own. Inspired by family photographs, self-portraits, and scenes of life, her practice moves between past and present. Her grandfather’s stories have interested her since she was young. He was born in Tafraoute, Morocco, where he grew up in a completely different environment from the rest of her family. At the age of 18, he came to the Netherlands as a migrant worker.
Her work is not just about her grandfather’s experience, or migrant stories in general, but also about the need to create alternative forms of archiving. It is about acknowledging personal memories. Her work aims to preserve memories in a way that is open to interpretation, therefore offering a space for conversation, something she considers essential when dealing with the topics of migration and identity. Working mostly with painting, she extends this approach across multiple mediums, including ceramics and rug-making. She paints with glaze on ceramic surfaces and uses wool to “paint” rugs, treating each medium as a form of painting. Her interest in Moroccan craftsmanship is visible in these techniques
Education
2022-2026 BA Fine Art (BEAR), ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem, NL
Selected group exhibitions
2027 (Upcoming) LUMC, Leiden, NL
2026 Tiny V, State of the Art, De Melkfabriek, Den Bosch, NL
2026 Museum Arnhem, Art Award Arnhem, Arnhem, NL
2026 Best of Graduates, Galerie Ron Mandos, Amsterdam, NL
2026 ArtEZ University of the Arts, Graduation show, ’The necessary existence of a bitter almond’, Arnhem, NL
2026 Datbolwerck, ‘Lupus’, Zutphen, NL
2025 Omstand, 'BEAR THIS', Arnhem, NL
2024 Omstand, 'Open House, Five Room Apartment', Arnhem, NL
Solo exhibitions
2025 Galerie-T, Middelburg, NL
2023 Erik Neimeijer Gallery, "GOING TO A TOWN", Nijverdal, NL
2022 Museumnacht, Stedelijk museum Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL (Award Kunstbende)
Projects
2026 Rabobank portrait commission- National Paralympic Team
2026 Rabobank portrait commission- National Shorttrack Team
2025 Rabobank portrait commission- National Hockey Team
2024 Wallpainting Step in the Arena, Eindhoven, NL
2023 Wallpainting Step in the Arena, Eindhoven, NL
2023 Illustrations for childrenbook "Rio" in collaboration with Iris Kelder, NL
2022 Group wallpainting with FreelingWaters (Gijs Frieling and Job Wouters), Arnhem, The Netherlands
2022 Wallpainting in commission for Kaliber Kunstenschool, Oldenzaal, NL
2022 Wallpainting in commission for de Hillevliet, Rotterdam, NL
Awards / stipends
2026 Tiny V. stipendium
2026 Art Award Arnhem
2022 Kunstbende Expo (National), Amsterdam, NL
Nominations
2026 Buningen Brongers Prijzen
Residencies
2024 ‘Water Structures’ at Fondazione Pistoletto, Cittadellarte, Biella, IT