Artist Statement:
Letters and texts have always been a source of inspiration and wonder for Elise Eekhout.
When you think about it, it’s a very fascinating fact: text is nothing but a series of characters in a row, to which we have assigned meanings. We can experience a whole range of feelings and emotions just by looking at those signs.
Eekhout combines this fascination of letters and texts with the images she creates in her art. Her work is layered and contains several types of information, including about herself, her feelings and thoughts. She likes works of art that have a story to tell that is not completely ‘finished’. “If you can see and retell the story right away, it’s boring. There has to be something for the viewer to discover.”
Before entering the professional artworld, Elise Eekhout has been a successful graphic designer for over 20 years. She started her own graphic design company whilst studying at St. Joost Art School (Breda, The Netherlands).
At the start of the corona lockdown in the spring of 2020, Eekhout decided to make her dream come true and become an artist. After only one year she managed to break through internationally with exhibitions in India.
Education:
Before entering the professional artworld, Elise Eekhout has been a successful graphic designer for over 20 years. She started her own graphic design company whilst studying at St. Joost Art School (Breda, The Netherlands).
1998 - 2002 Art School St. Joost, Breda, The Netherlands
1996 - 1998 Art School Willem de Kooning, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
1994 - 1998 Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam, Graphic Design, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Awards & Distinctions:
2022 A'design Award 'Illustrations Staat van Toezicht'
2009 2th prize, Expeditie 2009
2008 Nomination Expeditie 2008
2005 Nomination Frans Hals Award
2003 3th prize G.J. Thiemefonds
2002 Encouragement prize Thinquest uit de Kunst
2002 Nomination Gouden Penning
1998 Nomination Joop Hof Award
Professional/Teaching Experience:
2023:
Lecture, Kunsthalte 6, Naaldwijk, Westland, Netherlands
Lectures, Hofboerderij, Wateringen, Westland, Netherlands
2022:
Workshops primary school, Waddinxveen
Exhibitions:
2023:
Duo-exhibition, Hofboerderij, Wateringen, Westland, Netherlands
Solo-exhibition, Kunsthalte 6, Naaldwijk, Westland, Netherlands
Duo-exhibition, Kastanjehof, Kwintsheul, Westland, Netherlands
The Colorfield Performance, Elst, Netherlands
2022:
Group exhibition, MicksArt, Emmen, Netherlands
Solo-exhibition, Studio & Gallery, Spijkenisse, Netherlands
2021:
Nationale Kunstdagen, Gorinchem, Netherlands
Art Oasis, National Annual Art Exhibition, Guest Artist, Rajasthan Lalit Kala Academy, Jaipur, India
‘Master’s Strokes’, International Art Exhibition, Raja Ravi Verma Art Gallery, Guest Artist, Subharti University of Fine Arts, Meerut, India
Art Summer Festival, Virtual Artists
The Colorfield Performance, Elst, Netherlands
Artistic Influences:
(Post) impressionisme
Expressionisme
Contemporary Art
Vincent Van Gogh
Wassily Kandinsky
Paul Klee
Pablo Picasso
Karel Martens
Christian Boltanski
Artist Tags:
nature, city, expressionisme, colorful, corona, text
