Joana Velu


artist, she/her, NL/BR, based in Amsterdam,
curious how people observe themselves
and the world they are part of. 

About
CV
Contact
NEWS



WORK



PROJECTS/ WORKSHOPS

exhibitions (Selection)


2025


  • Land Art in the City | Museum M. (Jij bent M.), Almere, NL (upcoming in September)
group

2024


  • Code Noir Dinner – Keti Koti | Het Nationale Theater, Den Haag, NL
event
  • Food for Thought – Food Night | Scheepsvaartmuseum, Amsterdam, NL
event

2023


  • Let the Coral Snake Guide You | Tiny Showroom, Amsterdam, NL
solo
  • A Hook’s Eye | KunstRAI, Amsterdam, NL
group


2022


  • De Kwekerij | Corrosia, Almere, NL
group
  • Expositie voor 1 Dag (art in public space) | Corrosia, Almere, NL
group

2021


  • I Spy with My Little Eye... | Plan B, Amsterdam, NL
solo
  • Certeza Absoluta | Nieuw Dakota, Amsterdam, NL
solo
  • Certeza Absoluta | Graduation Show at Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, NL
group

2020


  • Schraap je keel | M4 Gastatelier, Amsterdam, NL
group
  • Where IN/Where OUT | When Site Lost the Plot, Amsterdam, NL
group
  • Code Noir-Neo Futurist diner with Suzanne Bernhardt, Lelani Lewis | Mediamatic, Amsterdam, NL
dinner series
  • EILEEN, ART & RESEARCH | Looiersgracht60, Amsterdam, NL
group


Residencies


2025Cool Clay Collective
Rotterdam, NL
 2023 Mirante Xique-Xique, MXX
Bahia, BR
2022 Somalgors74
Tschlin, CH
2022 AtelierAM
Almere, NL
2021Plan B Mertens Frames Projects
Amsterdam, NL


Education


 2017–2021 BA Fine Arts, Gerrit Rietveld Academie. Amsterdam, NL [EN]2013–2017 BA Arts and Culture, Major: Arts and Literature, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NL [EN]
Extra curricular
2019–2020ART and RESEARCH, One Year Honoursprogramme, Gerrit Rietveld Academie and University of Amsterdam, NL [EN]2018 World Art Studies, Course BA History of Art, Leiden University, Leiden, NL [NL]2015–2016 Erasmus Semester Exchange BA History of Art, Humboldt University, Berlin, DE [DE]2015 Internship Jan van Eyck Academie, research on the institutional history and changes in national art policy 1980-2015 (literature study and interviews), Maastricht, NL

Work Experience within artfield



2024–today Project manager Urgent Ecologies (interim), Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, NL
Project Coorindator various events, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, NL2022–todayPersonal Assistant Director of Bachelor Education, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, NL
Teacher and administative Assistant Head of Prepatory Course, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, NL2018–today Founder S&J Velu, independent services in art sector: communication for art institutions and artists, personal assistant artists, project coordinator, fund application writing, etc. 2020-2021 Student Representative Fine Arts Department during Covid-19 Pandemic, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, NL 2019–2021 Student Assistant Communication Office, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, NL2017–2018 Project and Exhibitions Assistant, Nieuw Dakota, Amsterdam, NL 2015Intern Project Assistant and build-up Open Studios, Jan van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, NL

Body- & energywork and embodied communication
2024–today BodyHouse Method: Embodiment Training, Centre of Oneness, Amsterdam and online, NL (first six months on a scholorship by founder Keren Rosenberg)
 2018–today Training in Zen-meditation, Kashmir-yoga, breath- and singing techniques, chi cong, Zen master Carolina Ko-Ran de Ruiter, Zen-Zang Sangha, Amsterdam, NL 2025 Lewis Deep Democracy Training Level 1 + 2 (facilitation method focused on inclusive decision-making), Amsterdam, NL 2024–2025Assistant Classical Tantra Training, House of Being, various, NL



Languages


  • Dutch (Native)
  • Brazilian Portuguese (Native)
  • English (C1–C2)
  • French (B2.2)
  • German (B2.2)
  • Spanish (B1)
  • Japanese (6 Months beginning course)