Virginie Vandeputte
Glass painter
Bruges, Belgium
Glass with a figurative glow
- Virginie brings realistic figurative painting to the art of stained glass
- The architecture of her hometown Bruges offers her daily inspiration
- Her pieces often feature etching, gilding, enamelling and grisaille work
Virginie Vandeputte brings together three different disciplines: painting, stained glass art and enamelling on copper. “By harmoniously interweaving these crafts, I can create total works of art,” she says. Specialising in historical painting techniques spanning the 13th to 19th centuries, Virginie aims to revamp the image of stained glass windows, which is often perceived as outdated and purely religious. "My stained-glass windows and oil paintings are filled with figurative images that address universal themes, which I hope will appeal to people today,” she explains. Every day, Virginie draws inspiration from her hometown, Bruges, a medieval gem. “The city’s magnificent architecture seeps into my work,” says Virginie. Symbolism, Art Nouveau and the fin-de-siècle mindset are also important sources of new ideas for her works.
INTERVIEW
From a very young age, I was fascinated by master artisans from the past. I used to draw and paint whenever I had a spare moment. When I was 13, a stained glass artist and friend of my parents suggested I undertake an apprenticeship with him at a leading stained glass studio in France. There, I became captivated by the potential of painting on glass.
I exhibited my project La Galerie Du Passage at London’s Chelsea Old Town Hall in 2024. This was the very first project in which I integrated realistic figurative painting onto a stained glass window. The positive reception I received has motivated me to push the boundaries of my craft.
The potential for realistic figurative painting on glass is immense. However, since the 1950s, stained glass has seen minimal creative evolution. As windows shifted toward abstract forms, the tradition of painted sections was largely lost, let alone the execution of realistic figurative art. Consequently, this specialised craft has become critically endangered.
I value authenticity above all. I find that strict adherence to a specific art movement can often compromise geniune authenticity. While I use techniques historically linked to the realistic figurative movement, my ultimate goal is to develop a distinct and personal style.
Virginie Vandeputte
Glass painter
Bruges, Belgium
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+32 475365998
LANGUAGES
French, English, Dutch
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