Hello, I’m Elien Ronse(she/her), a visual artist whose practice often takes shape through social engagement in diverse contexts.
I grew up in a small village in West Flanders, Belgium. I find it important to recognize that my perspective—my “look-on-the-world”—is rooted there. Over time, I’ve been critically examining the frameworks that have shaped me, both past and present, while also acknowledging the care and affection that exist within them.
For a long time, painting was my sole focus. But I felt isolated in the studio and discouraged by the neoliberal dynamics of the art world. Gradually, my direction as an artist began to shift—and continues to evolve in fluid ways.
Today, my work focuses on relational mechanisms in our late-capitalist society. I’m interested in how we relate to one another: the habits, complexities, banalities, and forms of love within (less-normative) relationships. I often look for macro-political mechanisms—such as sexism, classism, and racism—within micro, everyday situations. At the same time, I explore how resistance emerges through small acts of solidarity: keeping the metro gates open for others, living in cooperative structures, organizing protest, creating online networks of mutual support, or developing simple group rituals of care. Through my practice, I aim to reveal these relational gestures and help destigmatize stereotypes. In doing so, I want to challenge the power structures of neoliberalism, heteronormativity, eurocentrism, colonialism and overconsumption.
Another recurring concern in my work is the crumbling of the welfare state. I totally disagree with the dismantling of care and social work—structures that felt like a given while I was growing up in Belgium in the 1990s and 2000s. Today, we see them being eroded. The welfare systems were the result of long, difficult, and often violent struggles for human rights. How the systems were set in place and the way democracy was organized is questionable. But it is out of the question to let them be demolished by late-capitalists in power. I hope my work can contribute meaningfully to ongoing struggles for social justice and political change.
Because my practice grows from direct surroundings, collaboration is an essential part of it. I often work with people around me—friends, family, or strangers who may later become close. Within these collaborations, I try to acknowledge our interdependence while also confronting the internalized individualism that our society cultivates. Most of my projects involve working in togetherness: people can become co-creators, participants, co-thinkers, audience, or colleagues—sometimes all at once. I strive to recognize everyone’s authorship and to move away from the myth of the “artist-genius.” In recent years, I’ve also been working closely with the wonderful artist Stijn Van Dorpe, whose collaboration has been both refreshing and inspiring.
My work always begins locally, within an in-situ-context. I start by being present and listening carefully. As processes unfold, specific actions or forms may develop—sometimes a video, a restaurant, candles, flags, conversations, or a parade. The form always emerges from the needs of the context and aims to be meaningful for the people involved.
With much love and gratitude to all the supportive people around me.
Contact
ronseelien@protonmail.com
I have my desk at Van Volxem from Level Five in Brussels
Follow more updates on my Pixelfed
Ongoing Projects
How do you wanna welcome someone?— with T'Huizeke & Hart boven Hard, Geraardsbergen, BE (2025–ongoing)
De geschiedenis van het sociaal werk(working title) — with Stijn Van Dorpe, BNA–BBOT & CPAS–OCMW-museum, Brussels, BE (2025–ongoing)
Education
Lumbung Practice (part-time) — collective Level Five, Temporary Masters, Sandberg x De Appel x Gudskul, Amsterdam, NL (2024–2026)
Advanced Master of Research in Art and Design, with collective Manoeuvre — Sint Lucas School of Arts, Antwerp, BE (2020–2021)
Master of Arts (Cum Laude), Dutch Art Institute / Roaming Academy, ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem and various locations, EU (2017–2019)
Summer Academy AFFECT: “Exploring the Endotic”, Agora Collective, Berlin, DE (June 2015)
Bachelor of Education (Teaching), LUCA School of Arts, Ghent, BE (2012–2014)
Master in Visual Arts, LUCA School of Arts, Ghent, BE (2005–2007 & 2010–2012)
Bachelor in Social-Cultural Work, Artevelde University College, Ghent, BE (2007–2010)
Residencies
KAOS & workspacebrussels — developing Gaan we pingpongen?, psycho-social center Ixelles, BE (Oct–Dec 2022)
YARAT Contemporary Art Space, Baku, Azerbaijan (postponed)
Kunsthal Gent — Oh I love you Elien, BE (Aug 2021–Apr 2022)
workspacebrussels — A and E, BE (Sep 2021–Feb 2022)
Dream Art Institute — with Ciprian Burete, WALTER bookstore, Arnhem, NL (Apr–Jun 2019)
De Koer — What is a tourist doing at home?, Ghent, BE (Nov 2017–Oct 2018)
Zarya Center for Contemporary Art — research on locally made objects, Vladivostok, RU (Apr–May 2018)
Digital Art Studios — Design for Everyone, Belfast, NI (Oct–Dec 2016)
Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung, TW (Jul–Oct 2015)
Das Weisse Haus, Vienna, AT (Mar–May 2015)
D’CLINIC Studios, TRACTOR, Lendava, SI (Mar–Apr 2014)
Frans Masereelcentrum, Kasterlee, BE (Jul 2012)
Collectives
Para-Instituut voor KUNST en Precariteit
with Stijn Van Dorpe and others
De geschiedenis van het sociaal werk (working title), with BNA–BBOT & CPAS–OCMW-museum, Brussels (2025–ongoing)
Verzamelen Zócalo!, Leefbuurt Muizen, supported by Vlaamse Bouwmeester, Stad Mechelen & LUCA School of Arts, Muizen/Mechelen (2023–2024)
PLOT, open-air opera, Tondelier construction site, Ghent (2022)
We zeiden ook dat zal wel een bevlieging zijn, Kunst en Zwalm (2021)
former bakery becoming a collectively run space for art, social practice, and, who knows…bread, Brussels (2025-ongoing)
hosting Protest-bib/ Panneauthèque/ Protest-sign-library
co-creative platform with diverse communities
Snoepvriendschapsbandjes— evening on sugar & friendship, Kunsthal Gent (2024)
Manoeuvre’s Invisibilities— video (2021)
Hoe ga je me missen?, Nieuw Gent (2020–2021)
Onderweg Camping Oxygène— with Does Vandousselaere, Konnektor Residency, Gouvernement, Ghent (2020)
Finally!! My kitchen tour for you guys!— video (2020)
KOLEKSIKON, with Lore Smolders & LUCA students, Ghent (2019–2020)
Aaargh— making protest signs together, Ghent (2019)
G.R.A.S., with Samenlevingsopbouw, Dendermonde (2018)
Garden of Delights
with Jana Vasiljevic & others
I’ll Be Right With You, video on waiting, Kunsthal Gent (2022)
Holding Space is a Work of Art, online performance & video, BLANCO, Ghent (2021)
Cultureel Centrum Truck Stop— with Does Vandousselaere & others, relational installations on highway parking, Gentbrugge (2020–2021)
Other Women’s Flowers— with Carla Besora & others, book club & cultural events, Ghent (2018–2020)
Exhibitions & Projects (Selection)
Recent highlights:
(Additional exhibitions 2014–2021 include shows in Ghent, Brussels, Berlin, Basel, Athens, Belfast, Gwangju, Vienna, Vladivostok, and Kaohsiung.)
Teaching (Selection)
Transversaal Atelier, in psycho-social center Ixelles, RITCS, Brussels (2023–ongoing)
Guest speaker, Collectiviteit, co-creatie en participatie in de kunsten, with Stijn Van Dorpe, KASK, Ghent (2025)
School of Equals, one-week intensive course, LUCA School of Arts, Brussels (2023–2024)
Guest lectures at Sint Lucas Antwerp (2023) and LUCA School of Arts, Ghent & Brussels (2021)
Talks, Publications & Contributions (Selection)
How can artists claim a meaningful place within care settings?, conversation, LEF Leuven (2026)
Briefposter met gedachten voor Maria, kunstenaarsportretten, Platform UFO (2026)
Interview, Landschapstekening 2025, Kunstenpunt (2025)
Handle with Care, curated by Marie Umuhoza, workspacebrussels @ Kaaistudio’s, Brussels (2025)
A day of kinship, netwerkdag, Openbare Werken, Zarlardingas-farm close to Geraardsbergen (2025)
Tune in Radio Poort, een gesprek over de rol van een fysieke plek, Openbare Werken, De Koer, Ghent (2025)
Abcb, a talk with Francesca Hawker and Katinka De Jonge, at MAX Collective, Brussels (2025)
Communication and Audience Engagement for Art in Public Spaces, symposium by Platform Kunst in Opdracht, Z33, Hasselt (2024)
STADSATELIER – 10 jaar artistieke praktijken in en met de stad, publication by VIERNULVIER, Ghent (2023)
Doing Friendship, KAOS Talk with Mirra Markhaëva & Ignace Wouters, Museum Dr. Guislain, Ghent (2022)
It astonishes me when I hear you say love, article in TYPP Journal for Artistic Research, Sint Lucas Antwerp (2022)
Garden of Delights, collective publication on (in)visible work, Ghent (2022)
In the Studio with Elien Ronse, interview by Dorothy Hunter, International Sculpture Center re:sculpt (2017)