Karin Van De Walle

From the moment I first placed my hands in clay at the academy, I knew this was my path. But not just clay ”I wanted something new, something uniquely mine. Developing my own paperclay was the beginning of a kind of defiance, a refusal to stay confined within a single discipline. It was not just about creating a material that was flexible to my will; it was also a reflection of my love for sustainability. Recycling wasn´t a necessity for me at that time; it was second nature. Old materials found new life in my work, a second breath filled with stories and memories.

After the academy, I took a three-year break. Yet, art continued to simmer beneath the surface. When I started again, it wasn‘t with clay but with paint. I painted women strong, playful, and with a humorous view of their own bodies. These paintings slowly led me back to three-dimensionality. My brushstrokes transformed into shapes of clay. My paintings gained depth ”literally. One sculpture after another emerged, and with each piece, my artistic language evolved.

For a long time, I created sculptures purely from clay, exploring its endless possibilities. The texture, the weight, the way it captured every impression of my hands ”clay itself was enough. But over time, I ...

AKV St Joost Breda The Netherlands