THE ARTIST IN YOU: DISCOVER YOUR LOVE FOR ART IN CURAÇAO

Curaçao. An island you might know for its beaches, cocktails, and sunsets. But what surprised me perhaps even more is how much creativity lives here. Because you don’t need to step into a gallery to feel inspired. Just walk through the streets of Punda and Otrobanda in Willemstad, and the colors, walls, and stories naturally come to you.

Art is literally on the street here

During a walk through the Otrobanda district, it almost happens automatically. You slow down. You look around, and suddenly you see it: walls that tell stories, colors that catch your attention, art that is part of everyday life. The street art in this neighborhood is the perfect example. More than 60 murals give this area a completely unique energy. Each mural tells something about the community and the history of the neighborhood.

If you really want to learn more, the Artwalkastry is highly recommended. Every Thursday you walk through Otrobanda with a guide and discover the creative heart of the island.

From inspiration to something tangible

Looking at art is one thing. But sometimes you want to take something home. Something small, something personal. So while still full of inspiration, I went looking for places where you can either buy that creativity or create it yourself.

Kura Hulanda: a work of art itself

Before you even step into a shop or gallery, Kura Hulanda already feels like art. This part of historic Otrobanda is like a small city on its own. You walk through colorful streets and narrow alleys, surrounded by beautifully restored buildings. Between the houses you find tropical gardens, small squares, and peaceful terraces. It feels both trendy and authentic, lively yet serene.

It is a place where history and modern influences come together. Where you don’t just look, but truly experience. Here you feel Curaçao’s diversity, culture, and story in every corner. It is an area full of beautiful shops, concept stores, boutique hotels, galleries, and great restaurants, as well as a yoga studio, an ice cream shop, and much more.

Art by Eve: a touch of “dushi” for home

In the middle of Kura Hulanda, I walked into a small boutique: Art by Eve. And it immediately stood out. Everywhere I saw the word “dushi.” On jewelry, prints, and clothing. Small, cheerful, and typically Curaçao. Because “dushi” is everything here. It literally means “sweet,” but it is used for everything that feels good, beautiful, lovely, or kind. A word that perfectly captures the island’s vibe.

I left with a small ring that said “dushi,” as a reminder of how special this island feels.

Behind Art by Eve is Elly Hogenes. She paints and designs under the name Eve and has done so all her life. Self-taught and guided by intuition. After moving to Curaçao about twenty years ago, she found her creative flow again. The colors and life on the island gave her even more inspiration. What started with painting grew into a place where everyone can take a piece of Curaçao home. And you can feel that. It is personal, warm, and real.

The Gallery

In Kura Hulanda, I also discovered the work of BAGIRA. Her story is just as colorful as her art. The Algerian-Kabyle Amazigh-Hungarian artist grew up in several countries, including the Netherlands, and moved to Curaçao at the age of eighteen. A few years later, she discovered her talent for painting and decided almost immediately to fully dedicate herself to art.

Since then, she has quickly become a well-known name on the island. Her murals can be found everywhere: from the airport and famous beaches to hotels, streets in Willemstad, and even the new PRIDE mural in Punda. In 2024, she opened her own gallery in Kura Hulanda Village: The Gallery. A creative space where her colorful style and the energy of Curaçao come together.

Carlo Wallé: learning to see like an artist

In the same neighborhood of Kura Hulanda, I discovered the gallery of photographer Carlo Wallé. His work shows Curaçao in a different way. Through his eye for detail, light, and composition, everyday scenes become something special. What makes it even better is that you can not only admire his work, but also buy it.

And even more fun: you can join workshops.

Carlo teaches workshops where you learn to see like a photographer. From technical basics to creative composition. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or already experienced. It is all about learning to see differently. And maybe that is where art truly begins?

Hirsch & Reich: where stories become art

And then I walked into a bookstore. Maybe unexpected, but for me books are also art. I can completely lose myself in them, lose track of time, and travel to other worlds. It takes my mind on a journey, just like art does.

Hirsch & Reich is one of those places where you walk in and everything feels like it slows down or starts to move at the same time. A small, charming shop full of special books. Old editions, stories about Curaçao and the Caribbean, but also contemporary works.

The owner, Anneroos Reich, has a lot of knowledge to share about history, culture, and the stories behind the books. You naturally end up staying longer than planned. I left with a book about the island’s diverse music styles. What I loved most is the contrast. Outside, Otrobanda is full of music, colors, and smells. Inside, it is quiet and you get lost in stories. Until you step outside again and everything greets you once more.

Be the artist at Tugboat Beach

And then I thought: enough inspiration. What if you don’t just look, but actually create something yourself? At Tugboat Beach, you can.

Tugboat Beach already feels like a work of art on its own. Driftwood, murals, and the ever-moving sea. Everything inspires. You can simply enjoy the view, which in itself is already art, or join the “Be the Artist” workshop.

Using driftwood, you create your own artwork. Something raw, something real, something that literally carries the island within it. It is not about perfection. It is about doing, feeling, and creating. And how special is it to take such a memory home?

Everyone has an artist inside

What makes Curaçao so special is that art is not only in galleries.

It is on the streets. In small shops. In conversations. In nature. And perhaps most of all, in you. In the way you look at things. In the stories you create from everything you see.

So whether you join an art walk, buy a ring that says “dushi,” open a book and get lost in it, or create something yourself…

On Curaçao, you don’t need to look for art.
You only need to open your eyes and enjoy walking around.