I was born in Moscow in 1977. I arrived in Belgium when I was 18 to work as an au pair, where I subsequently studied law and management. After 15 years’ career working in international companies, I decided to take up sculpturing, thus renewing a childhood passion.
I have been described as someone full of energy. It is this energy that I would like to breathe into the pieces I work on. I am fascinated by the idea of infusing movement into a sculpture. It is a wonderful challenge, working in bronze, to capture a movement at that moment of intensity and to give an impression of lightness! My desire is that my works dance, jump and play ... that they are alive!
I am inspired by life around me. At the same time, I have realised that in my bronze sculptures, I re-create my childhood dreams.: figure-skating, ballet, gymnastics ... I watched these for hours on television when I was a little girl in Moscow. I admire these women (and men) who through effort and determination manage to give us an incredible impression of elegance and lightness ... This is also what I aim to achieve in my work ...
My atelier is situated in the center of Tervuren. For a private visit you can contact me via potapovatat@gmail.com or +32/478370075.
Awards:
- Prix du Public, Montreux Biennale, 2021 (www.biennale.ch)
- Prix du Public, Lasne Sculpture Biennale, 2020
- Lauréat of the Fonds SofinaBoël for the Education and Talent, 2022
Monumental sculptures in public places:
- Big Freedom (255 cm), Montreux, Leman Lake, Switzerland, 2021
- Infinite Flight (250cm), Tervuren centre, Belgium, 2021
- Infinite Flight (100-120 cm on wall), a Federale Real Estate order for their Falcone building, Grand-Bigard, Belgium, 2020
Represented in following galleries:
-Philippe Heim
Rue Ernest Allard, 16, Sablon Brussels, Belgium & Paris, France
- The Whitethorn Gallery
Main Street, Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland
- Artnpepper Gallery, Belgique & Luxembourg
Roquez, Jalhay 4845
-Fondation MAG
Chemin Bleu Léman 1, 1844 Villeneuve, Switzerland
Participated in following Art Fairs:
-Art Source, Dublin 2022 with Whitethorn Gallery
-Antica Namur 2022 with Philippe Heim Gallery
-Brafa 2022 in the galleries with Philippe Heim Gallery, Sablon, Brussels
-PAD 2022 with Philippe Heim Gallery, Paris
Exhibitions:
2023
-Art in the Park, ed 4, duo show with Dana van der Bijl, Tervuren Park
2022
-Lasne Sculpture Biennale, guest of honor, Lasne
-Tourinnes-la-Grosse art walk
-SAB by Philippe Heim Gallery, Costermans Gallery, Sablon, Brussels
-Chastre artwalk, Chastre
-l'Art pour l'Acceuil, charity exhibition, Brussels
-Art in the Park, ed 3, duo show with Dana van der Bijl, Tervuren Park
-Art Truc Troc & Design 2022, Tour & Taxi, Brussels
-Kunst in de Troost, charity exhibition, Vilvoorde
-Tervuren Rotary Gala, charity exhibition, Tervuren
-Duo show with Aldo Balding, by OFI Asset Management Mecenat, Paris
2021
-Tourinnes-la-Grosse art walk
-Montreux Biennale (Public Award), Switzerland
-SAB by Philippe Heim in the Costermans Gallery, Sablon, Brussels
-Château Coloma, Art Valley on the tours, Sint-Stevens-Wolume
- Art in the Park, duo show with Dana van der Bijl, Tervuren Park
2020
- Lasne sculpture Biennale (Public Award)
- Art in the Park, open atelier personal exposition with Tiet, Tervuren Park
- Tourinnes-la-Grosse art walk
- Sculpture offer to «Chaîne de l’Espoir» charity
2019
- Salon des arts, Association de la Noblesse du Royaume de Belgique, Bruxelles
- Charity auction for Rotary club, Tervuren
- Chastre art walk
- Gallery Van De Velde, personal exhibition with «Les délires de Josephine», De Haan
- L’art pour l’Acceuil, charity art exhibition, Brussels
- Tervuren Artiestentoer
- A Posteriori, art project of Valou Kervyn, Sablon, Brussels
- Air du temps, personal exhibition with Maria Mamkaeva, Cultural center of the Russian Embassy in Belgium
2018
- Operation 111111, contribution to the charity campaign with www.naojo.com
- ProfondArt- Limal art walk
- Ongezien#3, Museumnacht Antwerpen
- Charity art exhibition in favour of l’ASBL Papillon d'Armandia, la Hulpe
- Tervuren Artiestentoer
- A Posteriori, art project of Valou Kervyn, Tervuren
- Galerie Sablon d’art, Sablon, Brussels
- ART Truc Troc & Design, Bozar, Brussels
2017
- Noël approche, Watermael-Boitsfort
- Women’s ART, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
- Tervuren Artiestentoer
- Sculpture offer to the art auction in favour of “Eglantier”, Tervuren