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© Isabelle De Borchgrave
© Isabelle De Borchgrave
© All rights reserved
© All rights reserved

Isabelle de Borchgrave

  • Paper worker
  • Brussels, Belgium
  • Master Artisan
Isabelle de Borchgrave Paper worker
Contact
French, English
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+32 26485350
© All rights reserved

World of splendour

  • • Isabelle crafts masterpieces from rag paper
  • • Her creations have been shown in major museums around the world
  • • Her work touches on art, fashion and design

I say yes every time, as each time I am led down a new road, says Isabelle de Borchgrave. Perhaps because of this 'can do' attitude, the Belgian artist is always involved in the most exciting projects, crafting vibrant universes from the simplest of material: paper. Through various elaborate techniques of painting and sculpting, she creates trompe l’oeil masterpieces. Isabelle's fascination in fabric and its representation throughout art history has led her to produce impressive collections of dresses. Behind each garment, the paper becomes a subtle expression of textures, pleats, trims or jewels. From her knowledge of art and her insatiable desire to find new forms of expression, Isabelle brings her paper creations beyond fashion to painting, furniture design and decoration, being the subject of many exhibitions.

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Jean Pierre Gabriel
  • © Alain Speltdoorn
  • © Jean Pierre Gabriel
  • © Jean Pierre Gabriel
Photo: © Jean Pierre Gabriel
Paravent Platane

This folding screen of four leaves is one of the pieces displayed in the Free Spirit exhibition, it has been made entirely from paper and it is framed with wood. The vivid and intense colours of the composition, from red to blue and green, characterise Isabelle's painting and her vibrant universe. Colour is at the core of her art.

Height 177 cm
Width 239 cm

Photo:
Pleated Baskets

The painting, Pleated Baskets, is of one the pieces displayed at the Free Spirit exhibition. Isabelle de Borchgrave was inspired by the context "elsewhere stays inside". The painting is made of pleated paper, her signature technique. On a golden yellow background, the hand painted composition shows a range of woven baskets and plants.

Height 130 cm
Width 230 cm

Photo: © Alain Speltdoorn
Fauteuil en bronze plissé

This pleated bronze armchair is part of the Free Spirit exhibition, inspired by the context "elsewhere stays inside". The chair is made with the pleated technique, a technique that has become Isabelle’s signature. From her famous dresses, to the paintings and pieces of furniture, the artist is continuously extending her fields of expression.

Length 72 cm
Width 78 cm
Height 82 cm

Photo: © Jean Pierre Gabriel
Fortuny Delphos 1930s

Made of paper, this Delphos dress is part of the exhibition A World of Paper, in which Isabelle de Borchgrave found inspiration for this garment from a 1924 dress by Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo. The two-pieces of the dress appear to be in gold pleated silk. The long skirt and sleeveless tunic are weighted by Murano glass beads. By different techniques of sculpting and painting the paper, Isabelle creates a real trompe l'oeil.

Length 44 cm
Width 46 cm
Height 173 cm

Photo: © Jean Pierre Gabriel
Soleil de Nuit

This paper dress is inspired by a costume draw by Mikhail Larionov for "Soleil de Nuit", in 1915 for the 1915 Ballets Russes. Several processes and techniques were involved in the making of the dress: the paper has been painted and sculpted giving the visual effect of the fabric, its volume but also of the ornaments and jewels.

Length 95 cm
Width 105 cm
Height 205 cm

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