Luc
Leestemaker

1957 – 2012

“Being an artist, the words intention and creativity are always on my mind.”

Bio

Luc Leestemaker was a Dutch-born American painter whose work fused the moody landscapes of his native Holland with the expansive skies and textures of California. Descended from generations of artists, Leestemaker immigrated to the U.S. in 1990, leaving behind a successful arts advocacy career in search of renewal through painting. Influenced by Mondrian, Van Gogh, and American Abstract Expressionists, his layered technique—often incorporating acrylic, concrete, and oil varnish—produced luminous, emotionally charged compositions. His art evolved following a series of personal trials, including a near-loss of vision, and he exhibited widely in the U.S. and Europe. His work was also featured in films such as Erin Brockovich and Shopgirl, and he received solo retrospectives at the Bakersfield and West Valley Museums.