Liliane Demeester I Light orange

About the Artist

Liliane Demeester, born in Bruges, Belgium in 1958, is a celebrated Belgian ceramic artist trained in Plastic Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts. With decades of experience, Liliane brings a unique, intuitive approach to her handcrafted vessels and sculptural forms.

The Emergence of an Intuitive Practice

‍Upon graduating, Liliane chose a path defined not by strict plans but by spontaneous discovery. Eschewing detailed sketches and rigid blueprints, she adopted an intuitive creative process: placing her hands directly on the clay and allowing forms to emerge organically. “It’s as if the clay knows what it wants to become,” she explains. “I simply follow its guidance.” During each stage—from coil building and compression to final trimming—Liliane remains attentive, responding to subtle feedback in the clay’s resistance, moisture, and weight.

Echoing the sensuous curves of Georgia O’Keeffe’s flowers, her ceramics swell and taper with a graceful rhythm. Each contour seems alive, as though breathing or poised to unfold.

Through meticulous surface preparation and off‑kiln treatments, Liliane achieves a velvety matte finish. This finish invites an almost instinctive reaching‑out—the pieces look like they feel like skin, creating a tactile synesthesia.

Color is not an afterthought but an integral part of the design. Liliane mixes her own ceramic oxides and stains, applying pigments in layers to achieve depth and luminosity. From warm terracottas to jewel‑like teals, each choice amplifies the emotional tenor of the form.

Over the past three decades, Liliane’s ceramics have been featured in galleries across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.