Catherine van Pottelsberghe I Ares 3, 2024

Catherine van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie is a belgian artist whose captivating paintings unveil a universe rich in depth and light, deeply inspired by the central lands of Africa.

Early Life and Inspirations

Raised in Katanga, Catherine's childhood was immersed in the vibrant geological landscapes of the region. It was here that she began her artistic journey, experimenting with plaster, drawing, and three-dimensional works using stones, pigments, oil, and clay. The colors and textures of Katanga ignited her passion for geology, metallurgy, and the natural world.

Catherine’s formative years were marked by a profound connection to the land, which shaped her understanding of the materials she would later explore as an artist. The dramatic changes brought by industrial activity in Kolwezi forced her to confront themes of loss and resilience, as the stark landscape reflected a deeper narrative of uprooting and survival.

Artistic Development

With 25 years of sculptural training in visual and spatial arts, Catherine developed her skills in stone carving in the quarries of Dinant and Mazy, as well as in the urban quarries of Laeken. Her formal education at the École supérieure des arts visuels de la Cambre honed her expertise in monumental sculpture, forging a path that blended traditional craftsmanship with contemporary artistic exploration.

Catherine’s artistic journey further deepened with her studies in crystallography and spatial organization, leading her to pursue advanced research at the University of Valencia, Spain. This period was transformative, allowing her to merge scientific inquiry with artistic expression.

Life in Greece

A pivotal encounter set Catherine on a new trajectory, leading her to Greece where she immersed herself in the study of marbles, stone-cutting workshops, and the exploration of oils and pigments. For five years, she engaged in both artistic and scientific endeavors, including robotics and artificial intelligence, developing a tactile interpretation of color and myth.

In Greece, her monumental works transcended traditional boundaries. The white marble of Athens, with its contemporary ruins and the history etched into its walls, inspired a series of pieces that reflected both personal and collective narratives. The city’s pigmented walls, bearing the scars of earthquakes, became a canvas of life’s stories—each crack and fragment a testament to resilience.

Return to Belgium

In 2006, Catherine returned to Belgium, where she began to reveal a previously hidden universe through her art. Drawing from her experiences, both sensitive and collective, her work celebrates the rites and rituals of life. Her oils on canvas exult in the vibrancy of lived experiences, capturing the essence of memory and emotion.

Today, Catherine van Pottelsberghe continues to create, weaving together the threads of her diverse experiences into a rich tapestry of artistic expression. Her work invites viewers to explore the interplay of nature, memory, and identity, offering a glimpse into a world where light and depth converge.

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