Born in Amsterdam, Ger van Elk developed his practice while living and working across Amsterdam, Los Angeles, and New York City between 1959 and 1988. His formative years were marked by a period of study in Groningen, which helped shape his multidisciplinary approach to conceptual art and arte povera.

Van Elk’s work frequently engaged with the medium of photography, often manipulating images through painting or sculptural interventions to create ironic, self-referential narratives. His practice explored the tension between the captured image and the physical object, often incorporating film and installation to further deconstruct the viewer's perception of art.

Throughout his career, he received significant institutional recognition for his contributions to the Dutch and international avant-garde. His work remains a subject of study within the context of late 20th-century conceptualism, reflecting a career defined by technical experimentation and a persistent questioning of artistic conventions.