Stéphanie Defays

About Stéphanie Defays

Stéphanie's artistic journey started as a child with a taste for drawing and painting that never stopped growing. Her studies in pharmaceutical sciences allowed her to develop an understanding of matter, mixtures and preparations as well as knowledge of medicinal plants. Studies in art history enriched her, as well as evening classes in drawing at the Academy of Fine Arts in Liège and Verviers. She adopted an internalised and meditative approach, a positive sensitivity in search of an ultimate essence and enchanted peace.

Stéphanie's fascination with colour, its vibration and luminous dimension as well as the nature surrounding her, made up of steep rocks, calcareous meadows, rare plants and woods are the base of her work. Chromatic circles and light effects, colour charts of plants, the search for elementary and essential forms and gestures and the expression of the inner self characterize Stéphanie's signature.

Her study of colour and pictorial possibilities continues along these two lines: on the one hand, an analytical side, studies, constitution of repertoires: research of materials, colour charts, repertoires of elementary or essential forms, elements of nature (sky, air, water, earth, plants). It was a search, so humble and full of simplicity, where she felt like a student of nature. On the other hand, an abandonment to feeling, the necessity to express her inner feelings, the energetic and subtle universe of colours, light, plants and elements.

Born in Verviers in 1977.