Meet the owner

Ellis van den Boogaard studied Art and Architectural History and Archeology at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands - her native country - where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with Highest Honors (Bachelor's degree). While studying art history she also earned a graduate level certificate at the Department of Philosophy. During graduate school she was selected to participate in an extensive scientific and microscopic research project at the Museum voor Schone Kunsten Ghent (Belgium). The Stichting Fundatie van de Vrijvrouwe van Renswoude te 's Gravenhage honored her two years in a row with a generous scholarship, allowing her to finish her Master's Degree at the University of Leuven (Belgium) Cum Laude. After two years of traveling to conduct research at universities and museum collections in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and the U.S. - working behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Museum's Old Master Paintings collection for a month - Ellis's thesis (275 pages text only) received the Highest Honors at the commencement ceremony.

During her 'Belgium years' she also obtained a certificate from the university's School of Education for the methodology of teaching art history & pedagogy. During graduate school Ellis worked as a researcher at the University of Leuven's Studiecentrum voor Miniatuurkunst (Illuminated Manuscript Research Center) for three years in a row, the Kunstpatrimonium Leuven (Patrimoine Artistique), as well as the De Spoelberch Museum in Belgium. While living in Chicago she has been invited to work on several research projects in the Netherlands between 2001-2004 and conducted research (Infrared Reflectography) on the Rijksmuseum Twenthe's precious old master paintings collection. Ellis is a member of the Dutch Association for Art Historians (VKN), the international organization for Historians of Netherlandish Art (HNA), Chicago Artists' Coalition (CAC), Chicago Artist Resource (CAR), Chicago Public Art Group (CPAG), Illinois Art Alliance (IAA), Americans for the Arts (AFTA), Illinois Creates Coalition, and the Arts Action Fund.

Ellis worked as an art consultant for two companies in the Netherlands and decided - after finishing a project at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and exclusively working as an art consultant in the U.S. for over a year - to launch the art consulting firm Artishock in 2006. During her nine years in the art scene she not only gained a deep understanding and appreciation for art, but also discovered that helping select works to transform corporate and living spaces is deeply gratifying. Ellis is actively involved as a board and visual art committee member for Women's Art Series Connective Chicago. In October 2006 she curated the group show: Imperfect Balance: Women Before Us, Beside Us, Among Us (view flyer). Promoting creative talent in general, the show brought upcoming and established visual artists and performers, musicians, and poets together during Chicago's Artists' Month Beyond Boundaries. Ellis's long-term goal is to open a gallery in Chicago to help both artists and art lovers passionately zoom in on their personal style.