Johanna Van Parijs is a Flemish artist based in Costa Rica whose large-scale wood sculptures are just blowing me away. She works with a combination of wood, photography, and painting, and her pieces – which often take up an entire wall – are amazingly balanced-looking. They have a mysterious way about them that makes them seem like ancient artifacts rather than modern works created by a young person. Van Parijs is also an intuitive healer, and combines her knowledge of the healing arts and her familiarity with her materials with her interior design style to make substantial pieces meant to project calm. You would think sculptures on this scale would feel overwhelming, but they instead somehow project peace.

“I learned what I do through a combination of formal education and years of hands-on making. After studying 3D art, I became fascinated by the way sculpture could shape not only an object, but an entire space. Most of my learning happened in the workshop, experimenting with materials, making many mistakes, refining techniques, and collaborating… The problems I help solve are often about identity and emotional connection. Clients come to me when they want spaces that feel meaningful and unique. I help create environments that tell a story and leave a lasting impression.”

Much of Van Parijs’s works are created for installation in specific interiors, and those are even more impressive than her large free-standing pieces.

You can follow Johanna Van Parijs on her website and on Instagram and Facebook.