BIOGRAPHY
Who am I and why do I make art?
My name is Els Geelen. I am from the Netherlands and moved to Norway almost 20 years ago. I have a classical art education from the Hoge School voor de Kunsten in Amsterdam. Before that, I studied biology at Utrecht University.
After my studies, I built a catamaran with my then-husband. With it, we sailed along the Dutch, Scottish, and Norwegian coasts for several years. In 2005, we arrived in Norheimsund with our two children, living on the catamaran. We wanted our children to grow up with a close connection to the nature around them.
Then, I fell in love with a Norwegian man. Since 2009, I have lived at Homlagarden. Homlagarden produces organic turkey and chicken. My passion for ecology has led me to work on the farm alongside my artistic practice. My life at sea, my relationship with nature, ecology, and gardening have all influenced my artistic journey.
Why art?
When I make art, I feel connected to a primal need to create. I see this need as something deeply human. Witnessing growth and development brings a fundamental joy. Creativity can take many forms—writing, mathematics, social work—anything.
For me, it is art, the creative process. It is my plants, my garden. And, of course, it is the loved ones around me, whom I am fortunate to see grow and develop.
Art gives me both peace and strength, especially when I feel insecure. My work is about what fascinates me. I mainly work with print (monoprints), watercolor, drawing, and acrylic and oil painting. I find it compelling to visualize both vulnerability and strength. I love intricate details in structures or figurative elements.
I had a number of exhibitions of, among at the Norwegian Forest Museum, Schmucker Art Gallery USA, and other galleries both in Norway and abroad. She has participated in various landscape art projects in both Sweden and Norway, and has been leader of the board of Kunstnarhuset Messen, an artist residency program in Ålvik, Norway.
EXHIBITIONS
solo exhibitions
2021 Kunstnarhuset Messen
2020 Galleri Buen, Mandal Kunstforening
2020 Lørenskog Kunstforening
2019 Galleri Aamodtgården, Kongsvinger Kunstforening
2019 Galleri Mjøsvågen
2018 Drøbak Kunstforening
2018 Sandnes Kunstforening
2017 Bømlo Kunstforening
2016 Galleri Puls, Norheimsund
2015 Norsk Skogmuseum, Elverum
2015 Galleri Hagalid, Sofiehuset, Hjelmeland
2014 Schmucker Art Gallery, Gettysburg, USA
2014 Galleri Bergslien, Eidfjord
2014 Galleri Puls, Norheimsund
2014 Galleri Oz, Os
2013 KABUSO foyé, Kunstmuseum Øystese
2012 Galleri Syningen, Ål Kulturhus, Ål
2012 Hardanger Natursenter og museum, Eidfjord
2012 Galleri Rallaren, Tyssedal, Odda
2011 Hardanger Kunstsenter, Norheimsund
2010 Hardanger Folkemuseum, Utne
2009 Galleri Rallaren, Tyssedal
group exhibitions
2023 Haustutstilling, Haugesund Biletgalleri
2023 ¨Scatter Terrain¨ , Ejecta Projects USA
Suzanne H. ArnoldArt Gallery, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA:
2022 ¨Scatter Terrain¨ , Ejecta Projects USA
HUB-Robeson Galleries, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
2022 Haustutstilling, Haugesund Biletgalleri
2021 ¨Scatter Terrain¨ , Ejecta Projects USA
The John and June AlcottGallery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2020 Haustutstilling, Haugesund Biletgalleri
2020 Galleri Mjøsvågen, Osterøy Kunstlag
2019 Haugesund biletgalleri
2019 Bienala Albastra, Brasov, Romania
2018 Haugesund biletgalleri
2018 Face to Face, Cinctor, Romania
2017 Haugesund biletgalleri
2017 Hardanger Open, Odda
2016 ¨Sjå¨ , Utne
2016 Sommer utstilling Galleri Hagalid, Hjelmeland
2015 ARTBIKEfrihjul Landart , ArtInstitute Tjorn, Sverige
2014 Diplomatic Art, Helios Gallery Timisoara, Romania
2014 ¨Mellom himmel og fjord¨ Norheimsund
2013 ¨HiH¨ Hardanger Folkemuseum, Utne
2013 Amuses Mouseion, Amsterdam, Nederland
2013 HardingPuls, Norheimsund
2012 Museum of Contemporary Art, Recita, Romania
2012 Galleri Puls, Norheimsund
2012 Romanian Cultural Institute, Szeged, Ungarn
2012 Voss kunstlag, Voss
2011 Galleri Puls, Norheimsund
2011 ¨GREP¨, Fykse Landskapspark
2011 Garana Arthouse, Romania
2011 ¨Hardanger-Berlin¨, Eidfjord, Odda, Norheimsund
2011 Kinckhuset, Strandebarm
2011 Hardanger Folkemuseum, Utne
2011 Kunst Museum Timisoara, Romania
2011 ¨MNEMOSYNING¨, Budapest, Ungarn
2010 ¨Kunstløype¨ Mælen Landskapspark
2009 Hardanger Kunstsenter, Norheimsund
2009 Gamlebanken, Norheimsund
2008 Harding Puls i HT08, Hardanger
2007 Søgne Gamle Prestegård, Søgne
2005 Galleri Rudolf V, Amsterdam, Nederland
2005 Loods 6, Amsterdam, Nederland
2003 Kunst Kerk, Amsterdam, Nederland
artist residency
2024 Cinctor, Romania
2018 Cinctor, Romania
2017 Hardanger kunstnarleigheit Berlin Tyskland
2017 Timisoaro, Romania
2015 Tjörn, Sverige
2011 Garana, Romania
2010 Hardanger kunstnarleigheit Berlin Tyskland
Portrett intervju Klassekampen 02.09.2022
ØKOLOGI
Kunsten og kalkunene
LivetTora Sanden Døskeland (tekst og foto) / utklipp, ser heile artikkelen her
Et liv på sjøen førte Els Geelen til Hardanger. Der møtte hun kjærligheten, hundrevis av kalkuner og nye måter å være kunstner på.
