Born:

1975, Wilrijk, Belgium

Training / Education:

• 1998-2000: MA – Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery at the Royal College of Art, London (UK)
• 1997-1998: Technical apprenticeship at the Istituto Statale d’Arte, ‘Pietro Selvatico’, Padova Italy
• 1993-1997: BA – Department of audiovisual and Fine Art, Option Jewellery and Silversmithing at the Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerpen Belgium

Work Experience:

• 2000 – 2001: Designer for the collections of ‘Damiani’ and ‘Salvini’ – Casa Damiani, Milano Italy
• 2002 - : Teaching at the Department of Jewellery and Metalwork at the Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten, Sint-Niklaas Belgium

Exhibitions (Solo & Group Shows):

• 2004: Sofa, New York, USA, repr. by Charon Kransen
• 2004: Inhorgenta Fair, Munich Germany
• 2003: Sofa Chicago USA, repr. by Charon Kransen
• 2003: International Design Fair, New York, USA, repr. by Charon Kransen
• 2003: Group exhibition (in collaboration with Stefano Marchetti and Stephanie Jendis), Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen Holland
• 2003: Sotheby’s 2003, CDA, London (UK)
• 2002: Schmuck 2002, Munich Germany
• 2002: Sofa Chicago USA repr. by Charon Kransen
• 2002: Group Exhibition (in collaboration with David Huycke), Gallery Sofie Lachaert, Tielrode Belgium
• 2001: Group Exhibition, ‘Sieraden, de keuze van Apeldoorn’, Van Reekum Historical Museum of Apeldoorn Holland
• 2000: Group Exhibition , Graduation show 2000, Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen Holland
• 2000: Group Exhibition, ‘The Show’, Royal College of Art, London UK
• 2000: Group Exhibition, Goldsmiths Craft and Design Award exhibition, London UK
• 1999: Group Exhibition, ‘Table de fin de siècle’, Gallery Sofie Lachaert, Antwerpen, Belgium
• 1998: Group Exhibition, Gallery Sofie Lachaert, Antwerpen, Belgium
• 1997: Group Exhibition, ‘Ringen’, Gallery Ademloos, Den Haag Holland
• 1997: Group Exhibition, Graduation Show 97, Gallery Marzee, Nijmegen Holland
• 1997: Group Exhibition, ‘Cel 30’, Gallery Sofie Lachaert, Gent Belgium
• 1996: Group Exhibition, ‘ Joint Jewellery Design Display’, Taipei, Taiwan
• 1996: Group Exhibition, ‘ Het Belgisch diamantjuweel 1996’, Provincial Diamant Museum, Antwerpen Belgium
• 1995: Group Exhibition, ‘Bijoux Contemporains’, Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporains, Nice France

Awards / Grants:

• 2003: International ‘Diamond High Council’ Award, Finalist
• 2002: ‘Henry Van De Velde’Award for best Product of 2002
• 2000: Goldsmiths Craft and Design Award, Fashion Jewellery
• 2000: Nicole Stöber Memorial Award
• 2000: The Royal College of Art Society and Waterstone Prize

Collections (Private & Museum):

• 2002: Acquisition ‘Curl necklace’, Kruithuis Museum Holland
• 1999: Acquisition‘Cube Ring’, Kruithuis Museum Holland

Publications:

• 2003: Goud En Zilver – Metropool, bijlage Gazet Van Antwerpen, issue February
• 2002: Henry Van De Velde Award, De Standaard,issue december
• 2002: New crop – Beople Magazine, issue april
• 2002: Gallery Sofie Lachaert – Financieel en Economische Tijd, issue march
• 2002: Young talent - Kwintessens, issue march
• 2000: Look out for Salima Thakker – Crafts Magazine, issue november
• 2000: Gallery Sofie Lachaert – De Morgen newspaper, issue 1 december

Artist Statement:

I never put my ideas down on paper, I always proceed directly from the material, experimenting, making large numbers of samples, searching for forms, movements or surfaces that excite me. To avoid the proces of creating to become a proces of constructing, I always try to look for new approaches