Ancilla Van Leest Guide

Van Leest's artwork has been exhibited internationally, including shows in the Netherlands, the United States, and Asia. She has also collaborated with various clients, including publishers, game developers, and brands, such as Fantasy Flight Games and Tor Books.

Van Leest’s most prominent contributions related to the sex industry. She staunchly opposed the "closure law" ( sluitingswet ), which allows municipalities to shut down sex establishments, arguing that such laws violated property rights and the right to work. She framed sex work explicitly as labor, distinct from trafficking, and advocated for a regulatory environment that prioritized the safety and autonomy of workers rather than moral judgment. Her stance was a direct challenge to the Swedish model of criminalizing clients, advocating instead for full decriminalization to empower workers. ancilla van leest

In 2012, she interned at the digital rights organization Bits of Freedom, where she focused on internet workshops for members of parliament and public awareness campaigns. She staunchly opposed the "closure law" ( sluitingswet