NANA ESI
SOPHIE KEIJ
is an independent designer based in Brussels. Working across a wide spectrum of artistic disciplines - visual art, music, and fashion - she specialises in art direction, typography, and consulting. Her practice explores how different types of content can be translated into visual identities, printed materials, spatial designs, and events.
Sophie's approach is spontaneous and intuitive, reflecting the fast pace of contemporary city life. Her aesthetics playfully reflect a childhood in Belgium in the nineties and early 2000s, resulting in a vivacious style strongly evoking mood and movement. Both through her graphic work and event-based interventions, she challenges the receiver to participate in unexpected ways, questioning what distinguishes a spectator from an audience.
Sophie has or had long-term collaborations with Beursschouwburg, Damian and the Love Guru, Wiels, and Celador, among others. Together with Nana Esi, Sophie co-founded the design collective Atelier Brenda, where they worked as a duo for 11 years. Today, they work independently under the umbrella of Brenda. In a parallel universe, Sophie creates bar installations and performances, independently and in collaboration with artist Agatha Wara, responding to the saturation of today's monoculture.
Furthermore, she co-runs the project "Kaotic with a K" with gallerist Priya Shetty, inviting artists to create T-shirts.
Sophie studied graphic and interior design at Sint-Lucas, KASK Ghent, and WDK Rotterdam.
Sophie's approach is spontaneous and intuitive, reflecting the fast pace of contemporary city life. Her aesthetics playfully reflect a childhood in Belgium in the nineties and early 2000s, resulting in a vivacious style strongly evoking mood and movement. Both through her graphic work and event-based interventions, she challenges the receiver to participate in unexpected ways, questioning what distinguishes a spectator from an audience.
Sophie has or had long-term collaborations with Beursschouwburg, Damian and the Love Guru, Wiels, and Celador, among others. Together with Nana Esi, Sophie co-founded the design collective Atelier Brenda, where they worked as a duo for 11 years. Today, they work independently under the umbrella of Brenda. In a parallel universe, Sophie creates bar installations and performances, independently and in collaboration with artist Agatha Wara, responding to the saturation of today's monoculture.
Furthermore, she co-runs the project "Kaotic with a K" with gallerist Priya Shetty, inviting artists to create T-shirts.
Sophie studied graphic and interior design at Sint-Lucas, KASK Ghent, and WDK Rotterdam.