Urmila Massaar

Urmila Massaar: unique hand-painted art from Zutphen

Urmila Massaar is a Dutch artist who works from her home studio. She describes herself as someone who loves nature and all the colours of the rainbow — a passion that is directly visible in her work. As a child she was already painting everything within reach, and she has never lost that urge to embellish objects. She works with various materials: stones, shells, branches and wood form the base, supplemented with ceramics and metal. Each work, she says, is made with love and passion, ensuring no two pieces are identical.

What sets Massaar apart from many other artists in the affordable segment is that each piece is genuinely one of a kind. While most sculptures in a webshop are produced in series, every Ur-art sculpture is individually hand-painted and numbered. This makes her work a hybrid: affordable like a series product, but unique like an original artwork.

How to recognise Massaar's style

Urmila Massaar's sculptures are recognisable by several consistent elements. The most eye-catching are the colourful dot patterns and mosaics: she covers her sculptures with closely spaced dots, blocks and patterns in vivid colours, giving each piece a lively, almost psychedelic appearance. There is also the use of mixed materials: ceramics and metal are combined with gold accents, turquoise, bronze and other tones reminiscent of natural minerals. A third characteristic is the compact scale: her sculptures are relatively small (approximately 10 to 17 centimetres), making them suitable as decoration on a shelf, windowsill or desk. Finally, Massaar regularly incorporates spiritual elements into her work, though it is not always clear which specific traditions are reflected. Like Ellen Moorman, Kraan Crea and Jellie van Kranen, Urmila Massaar creates handmade one-of-a-kind pieces with a certificate — each piece is unique and unrepeatable.

Massaar collection at Pop Art Statues

At Pop Art Statues you'll find a rotating collection of unique Ur-art works by Urmila Massaar, starting from €59. The collection includes bird sculptures, balloon dogs and dachshunds, each individually hand-painted and numbered. All pieces are supplied with a certificate of authenticity from the artist.

Who is Massaar a good gift for?

A Ur-art work by Urmila Massaar is ideally suited as a gift for someone who values handmade and unique items. Because each piece is literally one of a kind with a certificate, you're giving something nobody else has — an argument that is relevant for many gift occasions. The birds (€59.00) are an accessible entry-level option and fit in virtually any interior. A Ur-art work is a fitting choice for a birthday or as a special gift when you want to give something truly exclusive. The balloon dogs and dachshunds (€95.00) specifically appeal to dog lovers and fans of the balloon dog form.

The compact size makes Massaar's work suitable for people with limited space or those who already have a full collection. It is also a fitting gift for someone who could use more colour in their home.

Not suitable: those looking for a large, eye-catching sculpture for the living room will be disappointed by the small size. Anyone who prefers sleek, single-colour design objects will find the colour intensity and organic patterning of Massaar's work too busy. It's also worth noting that each piece is unique — you cannot reorder the exact same sculpture if it sells out.

See also

Do you like Urmila Massaar? Also check out Ellen Moorman, Kraan Crea and Jellie van Kranen in our collection.

Frequently asked questions about Urmila Massaar