About Me

Annelise Bronsveld is a Chicagoland based artist practicing watercolor. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Judson University in 2017. Annelise became interested in shapes and patterns from a young age where she would make patterns using paint swatches.

In college, Annelise took a watercolor class. Her interest in shapes collided with her newfound love for watercolor painting and the behavior of the medium. She began exploring how to create structure and order from a medium that is unexpected and often difficult to work with. What started out as painting intricate patterns with watercolor, evolved into cutting up her old paintings.

Her practice developed the theme of “Order in the Unexpected” in the realization that her anxieties and fear of the unknown have a direct correlation with watercolor. Since beginning this process in 2016, Annelise has experienced unsteady changes like broken relationships, moving, new jobs, graduating all of which provoked anxiety. When ‘what ifs’, fears, and doubts arise, her practice now provides a rhythm and calm to the anxiety. With every square glued to the page, she is able to make some sense of the chaos and unexpected.

Exhibitions

Draewell Gallery / Juried Exhibition / Elgin, IL / May 2016-August 2016
Draewell Gallery / Juried Exhibition / Elgin, IL / May 2017-August 2017
ArtPrize 10 / Competition / Grand Rapids, MI / October 2018
Year 6 / Group Exhibition / Side Street Studio / Elgin, IL / March 2019
30x30x30 / Group Exhibition / Var Gallery / Milwaukee, WI / April 2019
Kane County Exhibition / Juried Exhibition / Geneva, IL / November 2019
30x30x30 / Group Exhibition / Var Gallery / Milwaukee, WI / July 2020
ArtPrize 11 / Competition / Grand Rapids, MI / October 2021
Monochrome: Yellow / Group Exhibition / Side Street Studio / Elgin, IL / May 2022
Elmhurst Artist Guild Fall Member Show / Juried Exhibition / Elmhurst, IL / October 2022
Elmhurst Artist Guild Winter Member Show / Juried Exhibition / Elmhurst, IL / December 2022
Color / Group Exhibition / Arc Gallery / Chicago, IL / February 2023
Small Works/Big Impressions / Group Exhibition / Union Street Gallery / Chicago Heights, IL / January 2024
Monochrome: Purple / Group Exhibition / Side Street Studio / Elgin, IL / February 2024
Year 11 / Group Exhibition / Side Street Studio / Elgin, IL / March 2024
Embrace of Comfort/ Group Exhibition / Necessary Coffee / Chicago, IL / November 2024
Piecemaker / Solo Exhibition / Dragonfly Gallery / Chicago, IL / December 2024

Press

Atelier MKE / Women in Art / March 2018
Refinery Co. / Creative Feature: Annelise Pollard / January 2019
Made Alone Together / Good Words Press / July 2020
Meet the Artists / Wood TV / September 2021
Women United Art Magazine / Group Publication / February 2023

Awards

Best in Show / Elmhurst Artist Guild / Winter 2022-2023
Best in Show / Glen Ellyn Festival of Art / August 2023
1st Place / Year 11 - Side Street Studio Arts / March 2024

Images on this website taken by Sarah Oster, Catie Scott and Annelise Bronsveld