Born in Antwerp in 1984, Stéphanie P.J.E. Poppe is a visual artist and paper restorer merging contemporary art with traditional craft. With academic training in art history and a specialization in the conservation and restoration of works on paper, her studio practice focuses on material precision, structural care, and cultural dialogue. She works extensively with fine paper traditions, with particular expertise in Japanese washi and kozo fibers, applying both archival restoration techniques and experimental thread-paper compositions in her original artworks. Driven by craft curiosity, she continues to develop her skill through international art contests and multidisciplinary paper research, approaching each project with patience, balance, and meticulous detail.
About
Her work is recognized for its intricate interplay between thread and paper. Materials that have become the foundation of her artistic language and expression. This organic evolution grew from years of experimentation, material research, and a deep dedication to craftsmanship. By continuously refining her techniques, from paper conservation to thread-based compositions, she brings strength to fragility and structure to gesture. Each piece reflects a patient practice shaped by exploration, precision, and craft-minded intention.
Stéphanie’s path into paper and restoration was shaped by her family’s heritage in textiles and fibers, and inspiring travels to Japan, which fueled an early fascination for Japanese craft and culture. She refined her skills through specialized masterclasses in Asian paper traditions and contemporary conservation techniques, becoming a paper restoration expert. Her artworks explore the balance between urban and rural environments, expressing harmony through patience, layered paper structures, and subtle thread compositions, where craft meets poetic intention.