Mella Jaarsma

was born in Emmeloord, the Netherlands at 9 October 1960. She grew up in the Netherlands and studied visual art at 'Minerva' Academy, Groningen (1978 - 1984), after which she left the Netherlands to study at the IKJ (Art Institute of Jakarta, 1984), Jakarta and at ISI ( Indonesia Institute of the Arts, 1985 - 1986), Yogyakarta and stayed ever since in Indonesia.

Her work has been presented widely in exhibitions in Indonesia as well as in international art events like; Soul Ties – Singapore Art Museum - Singapore, Third Asia Pacific Triennale - Queensland Art Gallery - Brisbane, I eat you eat me - Center of Academic Resources, Chulalongkorn University - Bangkok, ARS01 - KIASMA - Helsinki,  EV+A 2002 - Limerick City Art Gallery - Limerick, Gwangju Biennale - Gwangju, Site & Sight, Sculpture Square - Singapore, Open2002 - 5th International exhibition of Sculptures and Installations - Lido – Venice, Yokohama Triennale, Accidentally Fashion - Museum of Contemporary Art – Taipei, RE-Addressing Identities - Katonah Museum, New York, etc. Her work is in mayor public collections Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia, the Singapore Art Museum, etc.

She also got together with Nindityo Adipurnomo The John D. Rockefeller 3 rd Award, New York, USA (2006) and the Academic Art Award #2, Jogya Gallery / Indonesia Institute of The Arts, Yogyakarta (2008).

In 1988, together with her partner Nindityo Adipurnomo she founded the Cemeti Gallery in Yogyakarta , which since 1999 has changed into Cemeti Art House, organizing exhibitions, projects and residencies. Since 1995 she also has been active as a board member at the Cemeti Art Foundation – Yogyakarta , currently changed into the Indonesia Visual Art Archive –IVAA. She gives workshops and lectures in Indonesia as well as abroad; at Duta Wacana University-Yogyakarta, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum - Fukuoka , Griffith University –Gold Coast, The Substation - Singapore , Lasallesia College of the Arts – Singapore , Rietveld Academy - Amsterdam , etc.