Atelier Mestdagh

Katrien Mestdagh is a stained glass artisan with training in stained glass conservation and heritage management. She represents the third generation of Atelier Mestdagh, which was founded in 1947 by her grandfather Albert, who had trained in one of the most important Neo-Gothic workshops in Ghent. After Albert passed away in 1972, his son Luc took over the business, preserving the same techniques and knowledge that his father and his master craftsmen had taught him. Luc’s wife Ingrid Meyvaert, who specialises in designing stained glass windows, was always at his side. Thanks to her, the workshop started to use stained glass in modern architecture, thus matching traditional craftsmanship with contemporary innovation.

Stained glass offers Katrien Mestdagh a wide range of work and activities, from the conservation of stained-glass works to the creation of new pieces. There is a very rich history behind this craft, with some techniques having been lost over the centuries. Through conservation and restoration projects, Katrien is able to rediscover some of these lost techniques and aspects of stained glass and is also able to determine how to incorporate them in contemporary creations. “I’ve been in the business for over 15 years now, and every month there is something new that I haven’t seen before.” Katrien keeps learning, and always has the feeling there is more that can be discovered about this craft.

The studio has a training programme set up with the University of York, UK. Every year, the studio takes on students from the Master’s course in Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management for a period of 16 weeks. The studio started a new programme in 2019, founded by the Flemish government, to make sure that all her father's knowledge can be imparted to herself and others in the studio. Katrien Mestdagh wishes to combine the knowledge that comes from all the Master’s students with existing literature in order to create a database of academic research coupled with the more empirical aspect of the craft.

Pattern of Crafts Exhibition