Connection (2018) Painting by Purusha Geelen - Van De Graaf

"From childhood, I paint, write and model. In 1978 I had the choice to study art at the ‘Rietveld Academie’ Art Academy in Amsterdam or to follow a study becoming a welfare worker. I choose the last one and finished it positively in 1984. However, after a few years of working experience, my passion was too strong. I founded an art gallery in 1989 and since 1992 I sell and exhibit my own work in the art gallery ‘Peace in Design’. 

My way of living ánd working originates from the path I followed from 1983 to 1993, the path of Advaita Vedanta: the ‘non-dualistic path beyond knowledge’. About this path, I give lectures and write articles."

COLLECTIONS
- several (international) art collectors;
- Royal Dutch Embassies/ Consulates in (e.g.) Burkina Faso, Denmark, Ethiopia, India, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Norway, Pakistan, Spain, United Emirates & the United States of America;
 - art collections of (e.g.) ABN-AMRO (Utrecht, NL); Bank of Dutch Municipalities (The Hague, NL); Kas-Bank N.V. (Amsterdam, NL); TenneT (Arnhem, NL); Shell Services International (The Hague, NL)

EXHIBITIONS (e.g.)
Unilever Research (Vlaardingen, NL); Concord Library (U.S.A.); Stichting Elisabeth Ziekenhuis (Tilburg, NL); Hewlett Packard (Amstelveen, NL); Solvay Duphar (Weesp, NL); KPMG (Amstelveen, NL); Ministry of Traffic (The Hague, NL); Gallery De Witte Lelie (Delft, NL)(1998-2002 permanent); Town Hall (Oslo, Norway), Broadway Gallery (New York, U.S.A.); Town Hall (Zoetermeer, NL); de Baak (Noordwijkerhout, NL); Arsenaal (Coevorden, NL); Palace of Arts at the Opera House (Cairo, Egypt); Shell Exploration (Rijswijk, NL).

ASSIGNMENTS (e.g.)
- Art project 'Care for the Future' office Shell, The Hague (NL);
- Art project Primary School ‘Het Startpunt’, The Hague (NL);
- Design interior office multinational, Leidschendam, (NL): part of five office floors;
- 7 columns in ‘heart’ of office multi-national, Leidschendam (NL)
- Wall-painting for Primary School ‘De Bras’, The Hague (NL);
- Design interior-design Ministry of Defence, The Hague (NL);
- Interior restyling 5 public schools, The Hague (NL);
- Logo and poster for Dutch Ministry of Agriculture: introduction of the Euro (The Hague, NL);
- Several logo’s health organisations.

AWARD
- An honourable mention for the interior design of the office of Shell Services International.

PUBLICATIONS (dutch)
- Poem book ‘Lichtpuntjes’ (glitters of universe);
- Art- & poem book ‘Paden van Licht’ (paths of light);
- Several articles in interior design / life-style / business magazines.

• Nationality: NETHERLANDS
• Date of birth : 1960
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary Dutch Artists