Jelle van den Berg

Jelle van den Berg is a

highly respected, Dutch-born contemporary Australian artist who works across painting, watercolours, performance, and ceramics

. He maintains close ties to Murrurundi, New South Wales, where he has worked with local art organisations and notably served as the official independent judge for the annual Murrurundi Arts Prize.

Artistic Profile & Career Highlights

• Murrurundi Connection: In addition to judging local exhibitions, he has worked as a curator for local initiatives like the "Drawing Room" in Murrurundi and the nearby Tamworth Regional Gallery.
• Background: Born in the Netherlands in 1954, he studied Painting and History of Art at the Minerva Academy in Groningen. He immigrated to Australia in the early 1980s.
• Collective Practice: Van den Berg has spent decades spearheading artist-run initiatives and collectives, serving as a co-director for Sydney's prominent Union Street Gallery and establishing the creative initiative The Drawing Room.
• Style: His artwork features a distinct lightness, moving fluidly between vibrant, colourful abstract geometries and figurative improvisations on themes. [
• Academic Leadership: He serves as the Painting Coordinator at the Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong.
• Major Collections: His pieces are held in prestigious institutional collections, including the National Gallery of Australia and the Heide Museum of Modern Art.