Short Artist Bio
Christel Elver Pilkaer (b. 1988, Denmark) is a visual artist working with photography based in Aarhus, Denmark. In July 2019, Christel Elver earned a master’s degree in Photography from the Royal College of Art, London and they have a bachelor’s degree in BA Dramaturgy from Aarhus University, 2014. Between their two degrees, they studied photography both in Denmark and Iceland.
Christel Elver’s photographic practice is a form of expanding and embodied portraiture with a focus on memory, identity, mythology, and contemporary social and political issues and how photography can represent and visualize these issues. In their projects, Christel Elver uses an eclectic mixture of both traditional analog portraiture and documentary photography with more alternative and abstract photographic processes and techniques. Their projects are rooted in storytelling, staging, and perception devising a liminal space between the abstract and the figurative.
Education
Master in Fine Art Photography: MA Photography, 2017-2019, Royal College of Art, London, UK
Bachelor in Dramaturgy: BA in Dramaturgy, 2010-2014, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Education in Creative Photography: BA in photography - first-year, 2015-2016, Ljosmyndaskolinn, Iceland
Diploma course at Engelsholm Højskole (photography): College (Danish Højskole), 2015, Engelsholm Højskole, Denmark
Diploma course at Krabbesholm Højskole (fine art): College (Danish Højskole), 2009, Krabbesholm Højskole, Denmark
Awards
A New Gaze 4 - Vontobel Contemporary Photography Prize 2023-24 (Nominee)
4th cycle artist for Parallel - European Photo Based Platform 2021
2nd cycle artist for Parallel - European Photo Based Platform 2018-19
Finalist for the European Photography Award 2018
Shortlisted for the ReachOutRCA - Durham Wharf Award 2018
Residencies
Konst i Halland, Varberg, Sweden, 2021
Sail Britain, Isle of Mull, Scotland, UK, 2018
Group Shows
2023
Transformations II, Mellemrummet, Godsbanen, Aarhus, DK (Upcoming in July-August)
Transformations I, Holme Kunsthal, Aarhus, DK (Upcoming in May-June)
negative spaces, Se! udstilling- og projektrum, Aarhus, DK (April)
2022
Decemberudstilling, Kubus Alba, Aarhus, DK
2021
Parallel 4th cycle, Arles Photo Festival, Arles, France (cancelled due to corona)
2019
After School - Collective Stategies - pic.london, Lewisham Arthouse, London, UK
Parallel Intersection Budapest - second cycle artists, Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center, Hungary, Budapest
MA Photography Degree Show - Royal College of Art, Battersea, London, UK
em <BODY>ment - PPS (Photography Project Space), Royal College of Art, Battersea, London, UK
SCREWED, Royal College of Art, Battersea, London, UK
2018
Femininity - PPS (Photography Project Space), Royal College of Art, Battersea, London, UK
Ed. 01 - PPS (Photography Project Space), Royal College of Art, Battersea, London, UK
Sailing on a plastic Sea, Sail Britains Coastline Project, at St Katharine Docks, London, UK
6 Academies - European Photography Award, at Unseen Photo, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Parallel Intersection Zagreb - second cycle artists, at Organ Vida, Zagreb, Croatia
Family of No Man, Cosmos Arles Books, Les Recontres d'Arles, Arles, France
WIP Show - RCA, The Royal College of Art, London, UK
2016
Steypa Exhibition, Ólafsvík, Iceland
Publications
T O M R U M (Eng. E M P T Y S P A C E S), by Christel Pilkaer Thomsen, white_crystal Publications, 2018
Everything else
Board member Materielgården Kunstnerværkstederne, Aarhus, DK, 2020-ongoing
Member of Billedkunstnernes Forbund, DK , 2019-ongoing
Art guide and educator, Museum Jorn, Silkeborg, DK, 2020-2022