Isabella Billiet

The artist

About

Creating in dialogue with nature.
Born in Tielt, 1966Ghent, BelgiumMA Art History — Ghent UniversityTextile Design — KASK, Ghent
Isabella Billiet
Studio work by Isabella Billiet

In the studio — studies of light and shadow

Her story

Born in Tielt, Belgium, in 1966. I now live and work in Ghent. My journey in the arts began with color pencils and grew into a lifelong exploration of visual expression. I earned a Master's degree in Art History from Ghent University, followed several years later by two years of Textile Design studies at KASK in Ghent. At the Royale Académie Internationale d’Été de Wallonie I deepened my study of the old masters — glazing and optical mixing.

My work is a personal and passionate quest to express and capture the fragility and the delicate essence of life. I create in dialogue with nature, drawn to the interplay between light and shadow, the infinite and the transitory, the dynamic and the static. In May 2026 I took part in a residency at Convento de Mértola (Portugal), working with Japanese paper and the rhythms of wind, light and shadow — a turning point that placed natural processes at the centre of my practice.

Practice

Paintings — Works on paper — Textile

Painting

Painting

Abstract and observational work inspired by nature. Oil works in progress look at light and ever-changing shadows; acrylic pieces such as Breathing in & breathing out (24 × 30 cm, 2022) explore stillness and breath on canvas.

Works on paper

Works on paper

I often choose watercolor and gouache for their delicate and fluid language — botanical studies, plants and florals, and pieces such as Vagues, Gigaro for World Oceans Day.

Textile

Textile

Textile remains a clear pillar of my practice — from Textile Design studies at KASK to works such as Weavings and Weavings II (acrylic on linen, incl. 100 × 120 cm, 2019). Tactility, woven surfaces and ecoprint on linen from residency research add a physical, layered dimension to my visual language.

Approach

Work in progress — inspired by nature, observing light and ever changing shadows.

I work intuitively, translating impressions and emotions into visual form. My process begins with a sense of calm and focus — a counterbalance to the complexity of contemporary life. Whether painting in oil, layering watercolor washes, or studying shadows on Japanese paper in the wind, a central aim is to create a quiet moment for the viewer, a space that invites personal interpretation and reflection.

Exhibitions

Selected group shows, open studios, residencies and vitrines across Belgium and beyond.

Current

2025

Group exhibition at Delen Private Bank

BP tower, Antwerp, Belgium · Aug 2025 — Aug 2026

  • 2026

    Artist residency — Convento de Mértola

    Convento de São Francisco, Mértola, Portugal · May 2026

  • 2025

    Open Studios Tarifa Facinas

    Tarifa, Spain — duo with Gaëtane Hermans · Sep 18 — 21, 2025

  • 2025

    Mirrors of Reality

    Campo Santo, Ghent, Belgium · May 28 — Jun 1, 2025

  • 2024

    Offspace

    Gallery Ben Benaouisse, Ghent, Belgium · Mar 2 — 3, 2024

  • 2024

    Vitrines d'Amour

    Ghent, Belgium · Feb 9 — 18, 2024

  • 2023

    Aqua di Sale

    Ziso Art, Gallery Charlotte van Lorreinen, Tervuren · Sep 29 — Oct 8, 2023

  • 2023

    Vitrines d'Amour

    Bulthaup, Ghent, Belgium · Feb 5 — Mar 31, 2023

  • 2022

    Group exhibition, Ferme Dehon

    Frasnes-lez-Buisenal, Belgium · May 28 — 29 & Jun 4 — 6, 2022

  • 2020

    Vitrines d'Amour

    Ghent, Belgium · Feb 1 — 14, 2020

  • 2019

    Underground

    Ghent, Belgium · Dec 14 — 15, 2019

  • 2019

    Open Atelier

    Predikherenlei, Ghent, Belgium · May 2019

  • 2019

    Vitrines d'Amour

    Ghent, Belgium · Feb 1 — 14, 2019

  • 2018

    Nucleo Open Ateliers #12

    Ghent, Belgium · Oct 2018