Elien Ronse (she/her) is a visual artist whose practice is deeply engaged in socially embedded contexts. Growing up in a West Flemish village in Belgium, this local perspective shapes the foundation of her artistic outlook. Her work critically examines the frameworks of her past and present, while acknowledging the care and affection inherent within them.

Initially focused on painting, Elien gradually moved away from the isolation of studio work and the neoliberal dynamics of the art world. Her artistic direction remains fluid and evolving, centering on relational mechanisms within our late-capitalist society. She is interested in the complexities, habits, banalities, and acts of love that characterize human relationships—especially those outside normative frameworks. Her work highlights how macro-political structures such as sexism, classism, and racism manifest in everyday micro-situations, alongside everyday forms of resistance and solidarity.

A recurring concern in her practice is the dismantling of the welfare state and its impact on care and social work. Having grown up during a time when many care structures were taken for granted, she now critically engages with the gradual erosion of these rights. Through her work, Elien seeks to contribute meaningfully to ongoing struggles for social justice and political change.

Her projects often emerge directly from her immediate surroundings and involve collaboration with friends, family, and previously unknown participants who may become co-creators, audiences, collaborators, or interlocutors. She challenges the notion of the “artist-genius,” emphasizing collective authorship instead. In recent years, she has closely collaborated with artist Stijn Van Dorpe, which has brought a refreshing dynamic to her practice.

Elien’s work always begins locally, from a position of attentive listening. Depending on the context, her projects materialize into various forms such as videos, restaurants, candles, flags, conversations, or parades—always shaped by the needs and relevance of the community involved.