Xandra van der Eijk is a Dutch artist, researcher, and educator. Their practice is situated in the field of ecological art and ecocriticism, with a specific interest in the influence of the technosphere on evolutionary processes and methods of attunement, particularly to matter and their situated and networked lives.

The artistic practice is research-driven and finds its voice in developing and exhibiting artwork, writing, curating and developing education. For the past 4,5 years Xandra has pioneered ecological art in the field of education, by founding and developing a new master’s program “Ecology Futures” at the Master Institute of Visual Cultures of Avans University of Applied Sciences, that puts the exploration and invention of artistic-scientific methods at the forefront of practicing ecocritical theory in the field, aiming to find new ways of (co)generating practice-led knowledge in the process. Ecology Futures is the first MA program on ecological art in the Netherlands, as well as the first MA art program in the Netherlands to center, facilitate and teach biotechnological methodologies. The latter was developed from their position as a researcher in the affiliated Biobased Art&Design Research group (CARADT) and in the newly installed Material Incubator Lab & Project Space.

Over the years Xandra has been involved with numerous institutions and initiatives, often leading to longstanding collaborations and multiple roles, such as with MU Hybrid Art House and the Bio Art & Design Award, Embassy of the North Sea, FIBER and ZKM/Driving the Human and is co-leading the discussion group "Planetary Ecologies" as an associated researcher at Critical Media Lab (FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, CH). Their work is exhibited worldwide, most recently at the Biennale of Sydney, ZKM Centre for Art and Media Karlsruhe and MUDAC Lausanne.

Exhibitions

2023
Zone2Source,NL
Mudac, CH
2021
CID Grand Hornu, BE
Werkwarenhuis, NL
Dutch Pavilion, AE
Museum of Applied Arts, AT
Nieuw Dakota, NL
2020
MU Artspace
Transnatural, NL
Embassy of the North Sea, NL
Channeling Change by Ventura Projects
Milan Design Week / Virtual Design Festival
2019
Holon Design Museum, IL
CID Grand Hornu, BE
MU Artspace, NL
Vitra Design Museum, DE
Milan Design Week, IT
Collectible Brussels, BE
2018
KIKK Festival, BE
Dutch Invertuals, NL
Dutch Invertuals, NL
Crafts Council, NL
Dutch Design Week, NL
Cube Design Museum, NL
Ferrotopia, NL
Science Gallery, IR
Dutch Invertuals, IT
Artefact at STUK, BE
2017
MU Artspace, NL
Dutch Invertuals X Kazerne, NL
Dutch Invertuals, NL
Gallery Kunstliefde, NL
Dutch Invertuals X Londen Design Week, EN
Het Nieuwe Instituut
University Museum Utrecht, NL
Harvest
Musée des Arts Décoratifs, FR
Dutch Invertuals, IT
2016
MU Artspace, NL
2015
Colors Of The Oosterschelde
Dutch Design Week, NL
2012
Meta.Morf Biennale, NO
Gaudeamus Muziekfestival
Vredenburg Leeuwenberg, NL
DordtYart, NL

Awards

2023
Gemeente Utrecht – Commission 'Seijpesteijn Tunnel'
Winner
2020
Finalist
International Award – UK Department of Economics
Ph.D. Scholarship
2011
STRP Talent Award 2011
Honorable mention
2008
Paul Schuitema Award
Winner

Talks

2020
Sensing Place – Hybrid Conference
FIBER Festival, NL
FIBER
DEZEEN Virtual Design Festival
STRP Scenario #5
MU Artspace
Distortion Series Technology & Nature
HEAD Geneve, CH
2019
Living In The Hypernatural Epoch
OCT Art & Design Gallery, CL
IMPACT! Nature Expert Talk
Cube Design Museum, NL
Forest Talk
Triennale Milano, IT
Bio Design Night
Blue City Lab, NL
Design Matters: Design Uit Het Lab
Pakhuis de Zwijger, NL
Material District
Broeinest Eindhoven, NL
2018
KIKK Conference
KIKK festival, BE
Freak Of Nature
Dutch Invertuals X FranklinTill
2017
EKSIG Conference
Het Nieuwe Instituut, NL
D'Days Design Battle
Gaîté Lyrique, FR
BioTalk: Hunters & Gatherers
Mediamatic, NL
2012
A Matter Of Feeling
Meta.Morf Biennale, NO
2011
On Geometry And Speculation
Marrakech Biennale, MA