Ellen Dhondt

Ellen Dhondt (°2000) grew up in De Kempen and studied painting at KASK in Ghent, where she graduated in 2024. From her interest in identity and societal norms, she developed Ellie Dolly, a cut-out doll with which she shares various traits and that appears as an alter ego in her paintings. Her visual language meanders between playful and uncomfortable. Often, it is personal experiences that serve as the starting point for her works, which simultaneously acquire a broader societal significance. With Ellie Dolly, Dhondt explores the ways in which identity is constantly shaped by the environment, social expectations, and learned norms. Thus, Ellie becomes both a personal figure and a universal character. Behind the comedic and recognizable lies a critical question: to what extent do we determine who we are ourselves, and how much of that is determined for us?