Ellen Dhondt
Born in 2000 in Belgium, works and lives in Ghent (B)
About the Artist
Ellen Dhondt is a contemporary visual artist based in Belgium, working primarily in painting. Her artistic journey began at the Heilig-Graf Secondary Art Academy in Turnhout, where she earned her diploma in 2018. That same year, she enrolled in the renowned KASK School of Arts in Ghent, completing a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with a focus on painting in 2021. She continued her education at KASK with a Master’s program in Fine Arts, under the mentorship of artist Nel Aerts, finishing in 2023.
Ellen’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, both solo and group shows, throughout Belgium. Her solo exhibitions include “ELLIE DOLLY’S HOUSE” (2024), “THREE THRUTHS ONE LIE” (2024), and “ELLIE DOLLY IS BORN” (2023), each showcasing her distinctive visual language and playful, often subversive, artistic persona.
Her participation in group exhibitions further highlights her active presence in the contemporary art scene. She has shown work at venues such as Het Bos in Antwerp (“VRUCHTBARE GROND”), De Kunsthal in Ghent (“BUY LOCAL”), and De Warande in Turnhout (“MIKS”), among others. These exhibitions reflect her engagement with diverse artistic communities and themes ranging from kitsch aesthetics to social commentary.
ARTCONTEST WINDOW - I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
ArtContest and Michèle Schoonjans Gallery are pleased to invite you to discover the installation “I know an old Lady who swallowed a fly”, created by Belgian artist Ellen Dhondt, 2024 laureate.
An active member of ArtContest since 2007, Michèle Schoonjans is offering her gallery as a window display for ArtContest during the summer of 2025.
In this series, Dhondt draws inspiration from the visual logic of compartmentalised plates designed for picky eaters, evoking a psychology of order, control, and emotional fragmentation. With “Picky Eating”, the artist explores the subject of food refusal—often one of the first expressions of autonomy in children, a quiet yet significant act of resistance conveyed through rejection.
Ellen Dhondt’s artistic practice stands out for its bold visual style and dynamic exploration of contemporary culture, identity, and humour. She draws on educational and childhood imagery—such as paper dolls and learning materials—and introduces Ellie Dolly, a figure in her own likeness who serves as an alter ego. Through this character, the artist explores autobiographical narratives while questioning the construction of feminine identity and the stereotypes surrounding it.
By playing with caricature and visually familiar forms, Dhondt addresses taboos related to the body, consumption, and norms imposed from early childhood.
Her work continues to evolve as she establishes herself further on the Belgian art scene.
Please note: the gallery is closed during the summer.
The installation is visible from outside, on the ground floor, every day except Sunday.
If you would like more information about the works or are interested in acquiring a piece, feel free to contact the gallery.