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Welcome to
ArtwithJolo

Creativity beyond paint

See latest artworks

Trusted by organizations and companies who have experienced our workshops firsthand.

Bringing people
together
through texture,
creativity
and
touch

Artwithjolo is a creative platform, made for people with or without a formal art education or creative background, founded by an African artist whose work carries cultural stories from Africa and the Netherlands — the joyful and the difficult. Instead of paint and brushes, the artworks are built by hand from materials like beads, sand, stones, and clay, creating textured surfaces that invite touch, connection, and community. Here, people find joy, simplicity, and education, and discover their natural talent — both in making art and in looking at it.

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Workshops

These crafting workshops are hands-on, building-based sessions where participants glue and layer different textures directly onto the canvas. The process is slow and tactile, allowing time for drying, pauses, and return. Guided by the artist, the workshops focus on making through touch, material, and process rather than paint or brushes.

Behind the art: who is Jolo?

ArtwithJolo is a tactile art gallery in Leeuwarden, built on one value above all: inclusivity. Everyone belongs here. And where most galleries say “please don’t touch”, here you are invited to touch the art.

It began with Monica Ntege, a self-taught artist from Uganda who learned everything herself. She combined African contemporary art, sand painting and pop art into Afropop. It is shaped by the way art is made in Africa, and built by hand from beads, sand and stones. Because the art is made to be touched, blind and partially sighted visitors can experience it too.

ArtwithJolo Acrylic Painting Exhibition 1

ArtwithJolo Acrylic Painting Exhibition 2

ArtwithJolo Acrylic Painting Exhibition 3

ArtwithJolo Acrylic Painting Exhibition 4

ArtwithJolo Acrylic Painting Exhibition 5

ArtwithJolo Acrylic Painting Exhibition 6

Reviews

What people share about Art with Jolo:

"I had seen some of your work on your website, but I am glad to have had the opportunity to visit your gallery. Wonderful to see the 3D art, to touch it and enjoy the diversity of materials that you dare to use. So many pieces make a strong statement. Good “icebreakers” for an awkward setting I would think. Very interesting to hear some of the stories behind your work, thanks for sharing! I am inspired and the workshop is scheduled!"

Caroline Castle

"Hallo Monica,Ik heb je werk mogen bewonderen tijdens “Proef de Kunst” in Terherne. Wat maak jij een bijzondere, kleurrijke en mooie werken. Met vriendelijke groet,Marco"

Marco van kleef

"Je maakt mooie kunst! Niet alleen voor de ogen maar ook voor de handen. Je bent super creatief!"

Does

"Great workshop with well-defined concept and goals. Location with loads of space and good lighting. Ample introduction, demonstration, breaks ( with delicious bites) and materials (paint, brushes etc…). Superb team building event."

Solomon King Anywar

Caroline Castle

"Hallo Monica,Ik heb je werk mogen bewonderen tijdens “Proef de Kunst” in Terherne. Wat maak jij een bijzondere, kleurrijke en mooie werken. Met vriendelijke groet,Marco"

Marco van kleef

Frequently asked questions

I am based in the Netherlands. I Create and do all administration in my tiny home studio from which I take the art works to the gallery. The gallery is located inside the best kickboxing school in Leeuwarden. Energym 058, I normally rent out space at SMOEL KUNSTWERPLAATS but am flexible and can give workshops at any location provided.

Most of my artworks are not created to be owned privately. They are made to be experienced, shared, and interacted with because they invite touch and exploration, Instead of selling the works, I focus on exhibitions, workshops, and art rental, so that the artwork can continue to reach and engage different audiences.

Keep an eye on my social media channels and website for updates on upcoming workshops, exhibitions, and events. I regularly post about new opportunities to experience the art and get involved in creative activities.

Most traditional art is created with paint and brushes and is meant to be viewed from a distance. My artworks are made without paint and without brushes. Instead, they are built using textures, materials, and everyday objects. Each piece is constructed layer by layer, allowing the materials themselves to form the image and the story. That way the art is more engaging and accessible, especially for people who experience the world through touch. For me, art is not only something to observe — it is something to feel, explore, and connect with.

Yes. Even though the artworks are made from many small objects and materials, they are carefully constructed and built to last. Over the years I have developed techniques to securely glue each piece into place. The materials are attached using a strong adhesive process, including specially prepared glues.After the textures are built, the artwork receives a protective layer that helps keep the surface strong and stable and prevents the materials from changing color over time.Once the materials are set, they remain firmly in place. In many ways the surface becomes solid and stable, almost like a sculpted surface.

My artwork combines personal imagination, cultural inspiration, and textured reinterpretation. Some pieces are fully original, while others are inspired by shared imagery, African visual traditions, or digital references that I transform through my own tactile style, materials, and storytelling.

Contact me

Let's create magic together!

Contact me

Address:

Archimedesweg 7, Leeuwarden

Contact

+31 648220035
info@artwithjolo.nl

Welcome to
ArtwithJolo

Bringing people
together
through texture,
creativity
and
touch