My name is Els Geelen. I am from the Netherlands and moved to Norway 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.
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.
My work is about what fascinates me. I work with printing (monoprints), watercolor and acrylic, drawing, 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. I have participated in various landscape art projects in both Sweden and Norway, and have been leader of the board of Kunstnarhuset Messen, an artist residency program in Ålvik, Norway.
Els Geelen / CV
Aksnesvegen 70
5600 Norheimsund
Born: 1969
Education
1992–1996 – Visual Arts, Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (Amsterdam University of the Arts)
1989–1991 – Biology, Utrecht University, Netherlands
Solo Exhibitions
2021 – Kunstnarhuset Messen
2020 – Galleri Buen, Mandal Art Association
2020 – Lørenskog Art Association
2019 – Galleri Aamodtgården, Kongsvinger Art Association
2019 – Galleri Mjøsvågen
2018 – Drøbak Art Association
2018 – Sandnes Art Association
2017 – Bømlo Art Association
2016 – Galleri Puls, Norheimsund
2015 – Norwegian Forest Museum, 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 foyer, Kunstmuseum Øystese
2012 – Galleri Syningen, Ål Cultural Centre, Ål
2012 – Hardanger Nature Centre and Museum, Eidfjord
2012 – Galleri Rallaren, Tyssedal, Odda
2011 – Hardanger Art Centre, Norheimsund
2010 – Hardanger Folk Museum, Utne
2009 – Galleri Rallaren, Tyssedal
Group Exhibitions (since 2005)
2024 – Kabuso, Øystese, Anniversary Exhibition Harding Puls
2023 – Autumn Exhibition, Haugesund Art Gallery
2023 – Scatter Terrain, Ejecta Projects, USA
Art Collection at Adelphi University, Garden City, NY
2023 – Scatter Terrain, Ejecta Projects, USA
Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery, Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
2022 – Scatter Terrain, Ejecta Projects, USA
HUB-Robeson Galleries, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
2022 – Autumn Exhibition, Haugesund Art Gallery
2021 – Scatter Terrain, Ejecta Projects, USA
The John and June Alcott Gallery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2020 – Autumn Exhibition, Haugesund Art Gallery
2020 – Galleri Mjøsvågen, Osterøy Art Association
2019 – Haugesund Art Gallery
2019 – Bienala Albastra, Brașov, Romania
2018 – Haugesund Art Gallery
2018 – Face to Face, Cinctor, Romania
2017 – Haugesund Art Gallery
2017 – Hardanger Open, Odda
2016 – Sjå, Utne
2016 – Summer Exhibition, Galleri Hagalid, Hjelmeland
2015 – ARTBIKEfrihjul Landart, Art Institute Tjörn, Sweden
2014 – Diplomatic Art, Helios Gallery, Timișoara, Romania
2014 – Between Sky and Fjord, Norheimsund
2013 – HiH, Hardanger Folk Museum, Utne
2013 – Amuses Mouseion, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2013 – Harding Puls, Norheimsund
2012 – Museum of Contemporary Art, Reșița, Romania
2012 – Galleri Puls, Norheimsund
2012 – Romanian Cultural Institute, Szeged, Hungary
2012 – Voss Art Association, Voss
2011 – Galleri Puls, Norheimsund
2011 – GREP, Fykse Landscape Park
2011 – Garana Arthouse, Romania
2011 – Hardanger–Berlin, Eidfjord, Odda, Norheimsund
2011 – Kinckhuset, Strandebarm
2011 – Hardanger Folk Museum, Utne
2011 – Art Museum Timișoara, Romania
2011 – MNEMOSYNING, Budapest, Hungary
2010 – Kunstløype, Mælen Landscape Park
2009 – Hardanger Art Centre, Norheimsund
2009 – Gamlebanken, Norheimsund
2008 – Harding Puls at HT08, Hardanger
2007 – Søgne Old Rectory, Søgne
2005 – Galleri Rudolf V, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Artist Residencies
2026 – Piber Lipizzaner Stud Farm, Austria
2026 – Vienna, Austria
2024 – Cinctor, Romania
2018 – Cinctor, Romania
2017 – Hardanger Artist Residency, Berlin, Germany
2017 – Timișoara, Romania
2015 – Tjörn, Sweden
2011 – Garana, Romania
2010 – Hardanger Artist Residency, Berlin, Germany
Art-Related Work
2026- Public Art Commission, Kvam Upper Secondary School
2023–2024 – Vestland County Council, artwork for the Volunteer Award
2021–2024 – Vestland County Council, commissioned artworks for awards honoring Olympic and World Championship medal-winning athletes
2016 – Chair, Kunstnarhuset Messen
2015 – Acting Chair, Kunstnarhuset Messen
2014 – Board Member, Kunstnarhuset Messen; Board Member, HAKU (Hardanger Art School)
2013 – Board Member, Kunstnarhuset Messen; Board Member, HAKU (Hardanger Art School)
2012 – Board Member, Kunstnarhuset Messen
2011 – Co-Project Manager, Kunstnarhuset Messen; Working Group, Galleri Puls
2010 – Project Associate, Kunstnarhuset Messen; Working Group HAKU (Hardanger Art School); Working Group Galleri Puls; Cultural Officer, Kvam Municipality (2007–2011)
Memberships
Harding Puls
Kunstgarasjen
VISP Bergen