Karel Aelterman

 

Originally trained as a translator in Brussels (Belgium), he left the small, bustling country in 1994, and crossed the ocean to explore Canada's immense nature. The beauty and variety of Canadian forests deeply impressed him and gradually anchored a passion for wood. After ten years of reading specialized literature, doing research and taking various sculpture and cabinet-making courses, he has become a professional furniture craftsman and has created his own furniture­ making studio.

Moved by the desire to build wooden objects, he first took cabinet­making and sculpture courses to learn basic techniques and to feed the flames of this nascent passion. Later he began a gradual transition and career shift to becoming a full-time fine furniture maker.

In his studio, Aelterman concentrates on unique and contemporary furniture with specific attention to detail, proportion and quality of materials. With each piece, his goal, his challenge and his satisfaction comes from bringing out the inherent beauty of wood.