Winne by JDL Street Art

Winne is a portrait of the Rotterdam artist Winne, a mural painted by JDL Street Art. Winne is a Rotterdam rapper and a well-known, praised artist in the Oude Westen. Coming from Suriname to the Netherlands at the age of one and a half, he began rapping in English at a young age. At the time, he was known by the name Static. But his friends eventually encouraged him to rap in Dutch, and from that moment on, he adopted the name Winne. Having his first hit in 2005 with “Top 3 MC”, he only grew bigger over time, becoming a reference point for Rotterdam’s hip-hop scene. After being signed to Top Notch, he released his EP in 2009. His second album, “Oprecht Door Zee,” was released after a nine-year hiatus and features collaborations with numerous artists. In 2013, he was part of the group that released the album “Greatminds.”

The portrait JDL Street Art painted of Winne, in the Oude Westen, holds special meaning. Besides being the place where he grew up, people in the area appreciate him and have him as an example for the younger generation. He is also someone who demonstrates that everything is possible through hard work and dedication. Winne is also responsible for crowdfunding one of our murals about another rapper from Rotterdam, which you can learn more about by clicking here. This mural captures a close shot of his face. Besides not having the blue areas characteristic of most of JDL’s artworks, the signature black, white, and grey tones come together to bring life to Winne’s face, portrayed very realistically.

About the artist:

JDL Street Art, also known as Judith de Leeuw (her real name), is an artist from Amsterdam. Her specialty lies in creating large-scale murals, often using city walls as her canvas. However, she also has her designs available on other mediums. In the last few years, she has presented her magnificent artworks to around 41 countries, especially in major cities in Europe, the US, and Asia.

Judith’s upbringing in child services has deeply influenced her work, which often shines a spotlight on the struggles of the less fortunate, touching people’s art with themes that aim to depict relevant social issues and give new life to the walls that encounter her. Her paintings make us go on a deeply emotional trip, combining “realism” with a lot of expression and soul. Ethereal blue auras envelop her characters, lending them an air of mystery and contrasting beautifully with the surrounding grey figures.

JDL has garnered recognition, winning awards such as the Dutch Street Art Awards and the Young Amsterdam Awards. Her artworks have been showcased alongside renowned artists like Banksy and Keith Haring. Additionally, she received an invitation from the royal family of the Netherlands to welcome the Italian president. Major platforms, including CNN and the Chicago Tribune, have promoted her work.