Isabel Ruys, 1957, The Netherlands

In her youth, Isabel already enjoyed experimenting with pieces of wood in imitation of her grandmother, who always had some wood chisels lying on her dinner table.

Pursuing her other interests, she became a pediatrician. While working in this beautiful medical profession, she was confronted with a lot of sorrow. For many years, sculpting and creating proved to be a perfect antidote. Starting in 1988, she attended sculpting education in The Hague, Amsterdam and Laren.

Since the beginning of this century Isabel has devoted all of her energy to sculpting. Her inspiration comes from the beauty of nature in all its aspects. She translates her inspiration into strong, often monumental sculptures.

Her favourite materials are alabaster, limewood and bronze. Wood and stone have already been in nature for such a long time which adds to the beauty of the sculptures made out of it.

It is like working together with nature. The grain of the wood emphasizes the form and design of the sculpture and the way it is sanded, makes it very tempting to touch the soft contours. The transparency of her recent thin alabaster sculptures adds to their liveliness.

Isabel currently works in her studio outside Amsterdam, surrounded by nature and farmland. She primarily creates following her own inspiration, but also frequently takes on commissions.

Her work can be found in private and corporate collections all over the Netherlands.