Spring pop-up

With painter Kathleen Vanderweeën and ceramist Kathleen Buyse, we share a love for bold texture and unique hand-made work. For our third pop-up gallery together, we spent five sunny weeks in the Antwerp Kloosterstraat in April-May of 2025.

Goldsmith and jeweller's diploma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After 4 years of study and practice, I got my official Goldsmith's degree. Being able to practice a craft means everything to me. It's slowing down, developing skill, re-attempt, until I find an elegant, robust, beautiful shape. I will never be done learning about the different kinds of metals, melting, casting and shaping. So this diploma is just one milestone.

For my final exam, I made a heavy silver chain with an "American hook" clasp echoing workwear styles. The silver chain can be worn in several ways, also as a key or wallet chain on trousers. As a contrast, I designed a simple pearl pendant and a pearl bracelet with a similar closing. On the picture: the chain, bracelet and pendant. They can be combined into one necklace.

Rivoli Building Brussels

After summer, Kathleen Vanderweeën invited me to join her for one week at Rivoli, a brutalist building housing galleries in Ixelles, during the Rendez-Vous Brussels Art Week in September. I made ADOREMUS, a series of intricate pendants based on simple sea shells found on a beach in Zeeland, The Netherlands.

Antwerp Jewellery Week

In October, I entered the group exhibition at the AJW hub. It was inspiring to be part of an ecclectic presentation of jewellery art, contemporary jewellery and precious metal smiths/artisans.

Maker's Market Eat Dust / Girls of Dust

We closed the year with a holiday market at the Antwerp flagship store of Belgian-designed cult clothing brand Eat Dust and their women's line Girls of Dust.

I was very grateful to be part of the selection of local makers, a nice way to end a year of milestones.