Origins and Family Heritage (1943)

Greta Van Puyenbroeck was born in 1943 in Antwerp, in the heart of a family deeply rooted in art. Her parents, Paula Verberckmoes and Vital Van Puyenbroeck, were both established artist painters. Her mother, Paula Verberckmoes, was a Belgian painter specializing in figurative compositions and still lifes, member of the Kunstkring Konvent in Lier and active in Emblem. Her father, Vital Van Puyenbroeck, was also a painter.

This dual artistic lineage created an exceptional environment where art was naturally part of daily life. From an early age, Greta was immersed in the world of creation, observing her parents at work and absorbing their passion for the plastic arts.

Academic Training (1960-1962)

From 1960 to 1962, Greta Van Puyenbroeck took painting and sculpture classes at the prestigious Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten (Royal Academy of Fine Arts) in Antwerp. It was during this training period that she met Jan Van Dooren, who would become her husband.

This dual training in painting and sculpture gave her artistic versatility, although she ultimately chose to focus primarily on animal sculpture, a field in which she would excel and gain international recognition.

Artistic Evolution and Discovery of Animal Passion (1962-1976)

After her studies, Greta began her artistic career by drawing inspiration from her immediate family environment. Her first subjects were her own children and the domestic animals that shared their daily life. These works demonstrated tender and attentive observation of family life.

Gradually, her interest focused almost exclusively on the animal world. This evolution marked a decisive turning point in her career: she found her true calling in the sculptural representation of animals, both wild and domestic.

Working Method: On-Site Observation (1976-2000s)

Greta Van Puyenbroeck developed a unique working method that distinguished her from many animal sculptors. She became a regular at Antwerp Zoo and Planckendael animal park, where she spent countless hours observing and modeling her subjects on site.

Creative process:

• She directly modeled her sculptures in plasticine (modeling clay) in front of the living animal
• This direct observation allowed her to capture the attitude, movement, and character of each animal
• The plasticine models were then transported to her studio to be developed and finalized
• The sculptures were finally cast in bronze, a noble material ensuring their permanence

This approach demonstrated remarkable artistic rigor: rather than working from photographs, she favored direct contact with the animal, thus capturing its essence and establishing an authentic emotional connection.

Style and Artistic Characteristics

Greta Van Puyenbroeck's sculptures are distinguished by several characteristics:

Animal portraits: Most of her works are true portraits of individual animals, not simple generic representations. Each sculpture captures the unique personality of the observed animal.

Tangible emotional connection: The bond between artist and subject is palpable in each work. Visitors and collectors feel the empathy and deep understanding that Greta brings to animals.

Diversity of subjects: Her repertoire includes a great variety of species:

• Wild animals: sea lions, polar bears, big cats
• Horses: she created a specific series dedicated to horses
• Birds: a series dedicated to different avian species
• Domestic animals: dogs of various breeds

Realism and sensitivity: Her style combines precise anatomical realism with emotional sensitivity, capturing not only physical appearance but also the animal's soul.

International Career (1976-Present)

From 1976, Greta Van Puyenbroeck began exhibiting regularly, often by invitation or accompanied by her mother Paula Verberckmoes. Her career quickly took on an international dimension:

Exhibitions in Europe:

• Numerous exhibitions in Belgium and the Netherlands
• Participation in various galleries and art salons
• Exhibitions at the Maple Farm Estate Gallery in Bosschenhoofd
• Participation in the Beeldenstorm (The Image Storm)

International exhibitions:

• New York (United States)
• California (United States)
• Canada

Her works are now present in many private collections around the world, testifying to the universal appeal of her art.

Settlement in the Netherlands

Although born in Antwerp, Greta Van Puyenbroeck settled in Bosschenhoofd, in Dutch Brabant, where she continues to create and exhibit. This border region allows her to maintain close ties with Belgium while developing her career in the Netherlands.

Major Work: The Dog of the Boekentoren in Ghent (2018)

One of Greta Van Puyenbroeck's most emblematic and visible achievements is the bronze fox terrier sculpture installed at the top of the belvedere of the Boekentoren (Book Tower) in Ghent.

Story of this work:

• Installed on November 12, 2018
• Idea conceived by photographer Michiel Hendryckx
• Sculpture created by Greta Van Puyenbroeck
• Crowned the successful renovation of the library exteriors

Symbolism: This sculpture has become a mysterious and poetic symbol of Ghent. The dog has no official name, leaving everyone free to imagine their own story:

• Some think he is guarding the Tower
• Others believe he puts all the knowledge stored beneath him into perspective
• For relatives of Henry van de Velde (architect of the tower), he represents Chippa, the master's last dog

Clearly visible from Sint-Pietersplein, this work has become an iconic presence in the Ghent landscape, even if, as the official text notes, "just the thought of him sitting there is enough."

Recognition and Artistic Heritage

Greta Van Puyenbroeck is part of a remarkable family artistic lineage:

• Third generation: She perpetuates the legacy of her artist parents
• Unique specialization: She distinguishes herself by focusing on bronze animal sculpture
• International recognition: Her exhibitions on several continents testify to the reach of her art
• Public work: The Boekentoren sculpture ensures her permanent presence in Belgian artistic heritage

Artistic Philosophy

Greta Van Puyenbroeck's work demonstrates a profound artistic philosophy:

Respect and empathy for the animal world: Each sculpture is a tribute to the individuality and dignity of the represented animal.

Patience and observation: Her on-site working method in zoos demonstrates exceptional patience and total commitment to authenticity.

Emotional transmission: She doesn't just reproduce physical appearance but seeks to transmit the very essence of the animal, thus creating a connection between the work and the viewer.

Greta Van Puyenbroeck Today

Still active in the art world, Greta Van Puyenbroeck continues to create animal sculptures from her studio in Bosschenhoofd. Her work represents a bridge between academic tradition and contemporary sensitivity, between rigorous scientific observation and profound emotional expression.

Her bronze sculptures, cast in specialized foundries like Artcasting, perpetuate a centuries-old tradition of animal sculpture while bringing a unique personal sensitivity. She embodies the figure of the artist-naturalist, combining deep knowledge of the animal world with exceptional technical mastery of bronze sculpture.

Daughter of artists, she forged her own artistic path while honoring the family legacy, creating a body of work that speaks to all who share her love and respect for the animal world.