ABOUT

Artist Bio

Angelina Kumar is an artist, researcher, and educator from India. Her practice weaves together themes of the commons, sustainability, and regeneration, bringing ecological questions to life through playful, site-specific explorations. By shaping collaborations across disciplines and crafting artistic interventions, she nurtures connections that imagine healthier, more balanced ecosystems.

Artist Statement

I am an artist from India, currently based in the Netherlands, with a practice deeply rooted in regeneration and ecological concerns. My work explores the intersection of these themes with local communities, fostering artistic interventions that inspire change.

Rather than engaging in the fast-paced art world, I take a deliberate, process-driven approach—one that mirrors nature’s slow, intentional growth. This philosophy informs every aspect of my practice, from material choices to collaborative engagement. In 2017, I founded LDD – Lucrative Dumpster Dives, an initiative promoting circularity in the arts by repurposing discarded materials and fostering sustainable creative practices.

My projects balance playful artistic interventions with rigorous research, addressing pressing environmental issues. One of my key explorations involves working with mycelium, a living organism that offers insights into sustainability and ecological interconnectedness. Through experimentation, I have developed innovative methods to transform waste into artistic mediums, using nature as both material and collaborator.

My work extends beyond traditional art spaces into public spheres, engaging communities in participatory installations, workshops, and interventions. These platforms create dialogue and action, encouraging collective responsibility towards environmental stewardship.

At the heart of my practice is a commitment to empowering individuals to shape a sustainable future. By merging art, ecology, and social engagement, I strive to foster meaningful change—where creativity becomes a catalyst for reimagining our relationship with the world around us.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Directorship & Curatorial Leadership

2023 – 2025
Co-Director & Initiator, Peer Support Program for the Art and Cultural Sector Stichting Das Spectrum, Utrecht, NL

Co-founded and led a sector-wide peer support initiative strengthening resilience and knowledge exchange across the arts community.

2022 – 2025
Program Council Member, Wat Maakt West (with Gemene Grond) Utrecht, NL

Co-curating, producing, and strategically co-developing a 10-year program plan for a public art space.

Contributing to long-term visioning, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration.

2021 – 2024
Artistic Director, The Waste Bar, La La Foundation Utrecht, NL

Led artistic programming focused on circular economy, sustainability, and public engagement.

2020 – 2024
Conceptual Designer, Curator & Organizer, The Creative Playground Utrecht, NL (in collaboration with Perron West)

Developed and curated a socially engaged art platform and residency program supporting emerging practitioners.

Designed participatory formats connecting art, community, and urban context.

2020
Social Entrepreneur, Starters 4 Communities Utrecht, NL

2017 – 2024
Founder & Director, Lucrative Dumpster Dives (LDD) Utrecht, NL

Established a foundation advancing circular economy principles within the arts and cultural sector.

Developed cross-sector partnerships and public-facing sustainability initiatives.

Artistic Research & Curatorial Projects

2025
Researcher, Utrecht’s Climate Change Leaders Research Commissioned by K.F. Hein Fonds, Utrecht, NL

2025

Advisor, Rethink Hydrogen Dialogue Lab, Utrecht University — Utrecht, NL

2023 – 2024

Art Research Mycelium Connections, supported by Het Prins Cultuurfonds, Gemeente Utrecht and the K F Hein Fonds, Netherlands.

2024

Art Research on Letting Go, BAK – Basis voor Actuele Kunst, Utrecht, NL

2023 – 2024
Global Artistic Researcher & Co-Curator, Long-Term Art Projects Million Generations, United Nations Exhibition, New York, USA

2023
Curator, Centraal Laat Event Centraal Museum, Utrecht, NL

2022
Curator, Culturele Zondag Utrecht Marketing Foundation, Utrecht, NL

Selected Exhibtions

2026

Art for Nature & People, Rewilding Forum & European Forest Institute, Munich, DE

2025

Le Guess Who, Utrecht, NL
Warming Up Festival, Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, NL
Bio Art Lab, Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven, NL
To Move Like Fungi, Goethe-Institut & Bangalore Creative Circus, IN
Good Ancestors: Art and Culture for Future Generations, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Brussels, BE
Utrechtse Klimaatverdedigers, Stadskantoor Utrecht, NL

2024

Het Peukenbos, Coast Busters, Katwijk, NL
Good Ancestors, United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA
Re_Nature Festival & Residency, Ruigoord, Amsterdam, NL
La La Land Festival: The Magic of India, Amsterdam, NL
Down To Earth, Sonnenborgh Museum, Utrecht, NL
Sa Ladakh – Asia’s Highest Land Art Biennial, IN

2023

SymbioFest, Fort Werk aan de Waalse Wetering, NL

Selected Residencies & Fellowships

2025

Kaleidoscopic Fields Fellow, Be Fantastic, Bangalore, IN

2024

Re_Nature Residency, Ruigoord, Amsterdam, NL
Residency, Kiem Kamer, Utrecht, NL
Residency, Powerhouse RAUM, Utrecht, NL

2023

Museum of Small Wonders, Co-Transpose Residency, Dikea, GR

2021

Residency, De Voorkamer, Utrecht, NL

Pedagogy & Teaching

2025
Workshop Facilitator, Foraging Workshops InnStyle, Utrecht, NL

2019 – 2024
Lecturer & Workshop Designer, HKU University of the Arts Utrecht

Designed and delivered lectures, workshops, seminars, and field trips.
Taught across Design, Fine Art, Theatre, Master of Scenography, Art Education, and interdisciplinary programs.
Focus areas: ecological thinking, socially engaged practice, and cross-disciplinary creativity.

2021
Challenge Developer, Hogeschool Utrecht

Designed an applied design challenge for higher education students.

Selected Talks & Presentations

2025

Dutch Culture, Amsterdam, NL
Sa: Beyond Land Art — Film Premiere & Artist Talk, Babylon Theatre, Berlin, DE
PACT: Diversity and Equality, Utrecht, NL

2024

Embassy of Culture Day, Dutch Culture, The Hague, NL
Effective Altruism Global x Utrecht — For Future Generations Workshop
Dutch Embassy, New Delhi, IN — Mycelium Learnings
Distributed Design, Pakhuis De Zwijger, Amsterdam, NL

2023

PRO-WEEK, Kunstpunt Groningen, NL
Regenerate & Activate – Designing Cities for All, Pakhuis De Zwijger, Amsterdam, NL

2022

Design Beyond the Decline – Designing Cities for All, Pakhuis De Zwijger, Amsterdam, NL
Honours Programme: Towards Regenerative Societies, Utrecht University, NL

Production & Project Management

2022
Residency Programme Producer, Water Is What We Make It
Gemene Grond, Utrecht, NL

Creative Project Manager, Waterschap Hollandse Delta
Ridderkerk, NL

2021
Co-Producer, RE_Nature Festival, Den Bosch, NL

Writing

2025
Art Writer, BAK Basecamp Blog
Utrecht, NL

Education

MA Fine Art & Design
HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, NL
Sept 2019 – June 2021

BA Fine Art
HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, NL
Sept 2016 – June 2019

Course: Art & Economics – Business Modelling
HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, NL
Jan 2017

Awards & Scholarships

2019
Award for Spearheading Sustainability Initiatives
HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, NL