I used to be a photographer but since a few years I started painting due to chronic illnesses. I fell in love with the medium of watercolor and found a whole new world of expression on paper.

Although you often see my face in the paintings, the works represent something bigger. They tell about the defects of the human body and about the vulnerability you feel when you find yourself outside of society. In my paintings I use self-invented symbolism to give shape to these elusive subjects. Inspired by my love for color, textile designs and nature, I create vibrant watercolors with surreal compositions that express the duality of universal themes through my own vulnerability.

I live and work in Deventer (NL)

You van contact me at hannelottevanelst@outlook.com

education

2012 - 2016   Bachelor of Arts (BA) Fine Art Media, ArtEZ Academy for Art & Design, Enschede

2011 - 2012   Pre-education, ArtEZ Academy for Art & Design, Enschede 

other

2018 - 2019   Talent & Development program, Tetem, Enschede

2018 The Next Step, Kunstenlab, Deventer

exhibitions

2024 First Contact, Analoog Studio Arnhem, Arnhem, group

2024 De Staat Van, Bergkerk, Deventer, group

2024 The Sick Rose, Kunstenlab, Deventer, solo

2022 Kunsthalte, Kunstenlab, Deventer, solo

2022 Kunstenlandschap, Tetem, Enschede, solo

2022 Ogentroost, Tetem, Enschede, solo

2021 De Staat Van, Bergkerk, Deventer, group

2020 Hoe = Het Nu, ACEC, Apeldoorn, group

2019     je herinnerde me lente, Galerie de Vijf Ramen, Arnhem, solo

2018     Leitmotif, Kunstruimte N U N, Arnhem, group

2018     It's my tail and I'll chase it if I want to, Kunstenlab, Deventer, duo

2018     Salon, Bergkerk, Deventer, group

2018     Under Sweet Surveillance, Objektief, Enschede, group

2017     Vergroeid, B93, Enschede, duo

2016     New Dutch Photography Talent 2017, the Art 'Otel, Amsterdam, group

2016     Graduation Show, ArtEZ Academy for Art and Design, Enschede, group

2016     Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie, Darmstadt, Duitsland, group 

2016     Aki Media Finals preview, Villa de Bank, Enschede, group

2015     5th World Biennial of Student Photography, Novi Sad, Serbia, Romania, Bosnia and Croatia, group

publications

2022 Ogentroost, book, self-published

2018    Mister Motley, Voorbij het lijfelijkeonline publication

2016    NEW Dutch Photography Talent 2017, book, GUP

2016     Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie, catalog

grants

2021 Jeannette Hollaar Fonds

2021 Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds

2020 - 2021 Nieuwe Makers Regeling, Provincie Overijssel, Zwolle

related activities

2019 - 2021 Teacher, Pre-education programme, ArtEZ Academy for Art & Design, Enschede

2018 Catch event, Kunstenlab, Deventer