Meinke Flesseman – Artist, Entrepreneur & Algarve Creative Force

In the heart of the Algarve emerges a rare blend of creativity and vision: Meinke Flesseman, Dutch-born, Algarve-based, artist and entrepreneur. Her story is one of reinvention, of place, and of transforming space into an immersive creative ecosystem.

A Journey Rooted in Nature and Memory

Meinke describes herself as someone brought up “surrounded by animals, nature and simplicity” in the Algarve. Her work often reflects this heritage: layered textures, ethereal colour palettes, recurring motifs of animals, seascapes and quiet moments of life.
Her formal training is unconventional: she studied jewellery-making in Italy, then fine art at institutions including the Ruud Wackers Academy in Amsterdam, and has lived and worked internationally before making the Algarve her creative home. 

Rehabilitating a Building → Gallery & Artistic Residence in Portimão

One of Meinke’s most ambitious projects is the complete restoration of a historic building in the centre of Portimão, now serving as her gallery and creative residence. According to local press, the building (on Rua Infante D. Henrique 126, 8500-692 Portimão) was purchased and undergoing major renovation from October 2021, with gallery operations opening in December 2022.

Meinke describes the renovation process as akin to painting: “It’s all about building something up, and then using your imagination, changing it…” The building is envisioned as “five spaces in one, which are still connected but nonetheless separable”, allowing for gallery exhibitions, artist residencies, studio work and visitor experiences.

The transformation of a neglected historic house into a creative hub signals Meinke’s dual role: as artist and as cultural entrepreneur. Her work not only fills walls with paint, but breathes life into place-making in the Algarve.

Creative Output & Artistic Signature

Meinke’s art is typified by:

• ethereal figurative-and-landscape works, often featuring animals (goats, birds), water reflections and human presence.

• Mixed media, textured surfaces, layered colour fields, a fusion of abstraction with recognisable forms.

• A serene yet expressive aesthetic: the paintings suggest memory, place, stillness and motion all at once.

As she says:

“If a certain experience moves me, I guess I’m destined to paint it.” 

Her gallery has already started attracting international visitors, collectors and artists, and her presence has contributed to Portimão’s emerging identity as a destination for creative tourism.

Workshops, Residencies & Local Engagement

Meinke is deeply rooted in engagement: her gallery is by appointment but open to visits and creative experiences. She offers workshops, creative sessions and invites people into the process of making. The restoration of the building itself becomes part of the artistic narrative — the visitor can see “work in progress”, feel the history of space, and connect with the story behind the art.

A Personal Note

An Afternoon of Drawing at Meinke’s Gallery

I had the chance to participate in one of Meinke’s drawing workshops at her gallery in Portimão — an experience that felt both intimate and inspiring. The session began with gentle guidance and quiet observation, and ended with an unexpected twist: Meinke herself became our model. I had the joy of painting her, and that moment — artist and participant exchanging roles — captured the essence of her space perfectly. It is a place where creativity flows naturally, where stories are shared, and where every person is invited to see beauty differently. The painting from that workshop now holds a special place in my heart, and I will share its image here to convey the spirit of that afternoon.