Piets Althuis (1942) followed her studies at the free academy for arts at Nunspeet. She finds her inspiration in texts from poems, songs and stories. This Frisian sculptor understands the art of translating universal human emotions and thoughts into themes like light, sky and love. Her bronze sculptures each have a kind of cheating, a touch of humor or irony, whatever you want to call it. You wonder what a certain detail in the sculpture, or the relationship between the protagonists, has to mean. The sculptures speak extra to the imagination by the names that Piets Altshuis imparts to her creations: Home, Connected, or In the Lee

Lightness
Piets Althuis about her sculptures : "An image is never heavy, even if you can not lift it". And although the sculptures measured in kilos may not be just lifted up, they all have a bit light-weight. The Woman with the Butterfly stares wide-legged to the flickering creature on her hand, the gypsy takes a cheeky, hurry-challenging pose and the birds perform a cool mating dance. According to Piets Althuis, her sculptures always aim for light, which may explain their attraction to many people. Lastly, there is already enough weight in our world.


From wire figure to bronze sculpture
During the creation of her bronze sculptures, Piets Altshuis works according to a fixed line. First, a sketch is made on which she makes a wire figure. After this is finished, the wax is built around. Using the wax sculpture, a mold is then made, where the bronze is poured in later. The casting is undergoing a lot of edits before it gets its final shape, such as grinding, polishing and patinating with acids. Larger sculptures are often cast into parts. The website of Piets Altshuis provides a visual overview of how this process works.


The circle is not yet round
Today, Piets Altshuis works from the Frisian Workum, where she, with her husband, Theologian Dr. Albert Altshuis lives in a beautiful historic building near the Jopie Huisman museum. She usually makes free work, but she also regularly makes sculptures in commission. Her works are featured in numerous galleries and exhibitions. There is never a lack of inspiration. Encounters with engaging people can also call up new images. And it's all about her three favourite muzes: love, light and sky. Or as she says it herself: "The circle is not yet around".

At gallery Wildevuur, the sculptures of Piets Althuis can be seen all year long. We have included a continuous exhibition of her works in our art collection.