MY
STORY

Elise Lufting, born in Oldenzaal in 1986 and now residing in Amsterdam, balances her career in impact investing with a passionate exploration of the art world. She is now exploring, developing, and experimenting with different materials and themes, constantly evolving in her creative journey.

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Elise’s love for art began at a young age during her time at a special elementary school where afternoons were dedicated to creative exploration through various art forms. Elise draws significant inspiration from her diverse heritage. Her father was born in Surabaya, Indonesia, her grandmother is Indonesian, and her grandfather comes from a Dutch-Indonesian family. Coupled with her mother's Dutch roots, this blend of cultures gives her a distinctive perspective in her art. Despite a strong passion for art, she pursued a degree in business economics to meet her family's expectations for financial stability. However, her artistic passion remained, and she engaged in painting classes, sculpture workshops, and frequent visits to exhibitions. 

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"With my Master's degree in Finance, I still had a strong desire to make a positive impact in the world. I chose to pursue a career in impact investing, focusing on investments in companies that aim to generate positive social and environmental impacts. Realizing that a solid foundation in core banking skills was essential, I decided to pursue this knowledge first. From 2010 onwards, I worked and lived in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and London, where I learned banking in an international talent program focused on Mergers & Acquisitions. I was often one of the only woman in the team and logged an average of 60/70 hours a week in an 'office garden.' While I gained invaluable experience, learning core banking skills and working with diverse cultures, I found myself increasingly out of place in the aggressive and traditional banking culture. Painting became my mental escape, a means to express my emotions and counteract the monotony of the financial world. My acrylic paintings during that time were characterized by lively, vivid colors and uncontrolled brushstrokes."

 

Elise’s career progressed from banking to private equity for a development bank, and then to a director role leading a team in technology investment consulting. She deeply appreciated the opportunities she received in finance, but increasingly felt the need to pursue her passion for art. The turning point came in 2016 when a close friend passed away; he encouraged her to stay authentic and never let go of her passion for the arts. 

 

To further her artistic journey, she began studying Art History at the University of Amsterdam alongside her work. For her, art is about expression—expressing emotions, views, and ideas; evoking feelings — completely opposite to the rational, analytical, and binary decisions of the financial sector. The Art History program allowed her to delve into the rich history of art and its movements, understand the motivations behind various artists, and the contexts they operated in. In 2021, she graduated from UvA with a Master’s degree in Modern & Contemporary Art History. She was inspired by artists that pushed boundaries, challenged status quo and the theme of empathy in art. Her Master thesis focused on the Empathetic Museum concept, addressing diversity, inclusivity, equity and decolonisation. 

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“I also felt that I wanted to know what has been done in order to create something new.”

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This study deeply inspired her to create more art herself and experiment with different materials. She gained many new ideas, reflecting on her experiences over the last decade. Despite her successful progressing career in Finance, she decided to resign from a full-time position and start to work for herself with companies that aim to have a positive contribution to the world. Next to that, she started the Orientation year at the Rietveld Academy. This inspired her even more to develop her art practice, and in 2024, she started the Amalgam Program of the Royal Academy in The Hague, which is a part-time Bachelor of Fine Arts. Founded in 1682, it’s the oldest art and design academy in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in the world. In the next years, she hopes to further grow as an artist.

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"Through my artworks, I am exploring the contrasts in life. While I have left the 'hard-core' financial sector, the experiences I gained there provide me with a unique perspective. I was part of that world, yet often felt like an outsider due to my different approach and emphasizing the human side and consequences of decisions. Empathy was often lacking as well as moral values.  Art is primarily a means for me to express myself. One day, I hope to develop the skills to create a dialogue between polarized views and foster empathy between the seemingly disparate worlds of finance and art. Over time, I have come to see the convergence of my past, present, and future direction in art. Georgia O’Keeffe is a great inspiration to me; she said: