Artists

David Ducharme

Artistic Director - Canada

David Jean Ducharme, artist of Canadian origin, graduated at the age of 21 from the University of Montreal; at 22 he began his artistic journey by enrolling at the Kootenay School of the Arts where he learned the technique of sculpting stone, metals, jewels and ceramics. In 1994 he began working at an artistic foundry until arriving in 2007 with the first sand sculpture competition. Since then, Ducharme has begun to compete with the best professional sculptors from all over the world, not only refining the technique but also coordinating teams of artists. David is also an accomplished ice and snow sculptor with both small and large scale sculptures, achieving first place in several competitions.
From summer 2023 he coordinates the artistic part of the sand sculptures of the city of Jesolo.

Susanne Marguerite Ruseler

Netherlands

This Dutch artist has been working with sand since 2003, when she decided to pursue her passion for sculpture. She also likes working with other materials, such as ice, snow and concrete. After completing her university studies in Biology, she devoted herself full-time to sculpture, participating in projects, events and competitions around the world.
In 2018 he was part of the team that created the Nativity in St. Peter's Square, a gift from the Municipality of Jesolo to Pope Francis.

Marielle Heessels

Netherlands

Marielle cultivated a passion for drawing, sculpture and painting from an early age, which laid the foundation for her later work as a sculptor and painter. She has always worked with various materials, but in 2006 she approached the art of sand sculpting, finding it a fascinating medium for expressing her passions and developing as an artist.

Radovan Zivny

Czech Republic

Born in 1973 in the Czech Republic, he is a graphic designer and art professor. As a sculptor he began working with sand in 1997 and currently participates in the most prestigious events in this field organized around the world.
In recent years he has also started working with more traditional materials such as wood, concrete and iron. Between 2010 and 2013 he was the artistic director of the Golden Sand Festival in Bulgaria.
In 2018 he was part of the team that created the Nativity in St. Peter's Square, a gift from the Municipality of Jesolo to Pope Francis.

Michela Ciappini

Italy

Sculptor and set designer. A graduate in scenography at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, she devoted herself to theatrical set design, working in opera and drama productions, experimental theatre and cinema, for which she created backdrops, pictorial decorations and sculptures in various materials. This activity led her to work in several theatres, film studios and theme parks throughout Italy. In 2004, she began to work with sand and after some experiences in Italy, she entered the international competition and festival circuit, where she has earned awards and recognition. She has subsequently tried her hand at working with other materials, such as ice and snow and vegetable carving, as well as body painting.

Nicola Wood

England

Nicola Wood is an award-winning sculptress who has been working with sand, snow, ice, concrete, and earth since 2006. Her journey began in Australia, where a volunteer opportunity ignited a lifelong passion for sand sculpture. She has since received numerous awards, including gold medals at the World and European Sand Sculpture Championships. She lives in Leicestershire, England, where she balances her international work with family life. In addition to sculpture, Nicola is also a talented painter, creating murals, portraits, and a wide range of two-dimensional works. She has shared her creativity with a wider audience as the host of the BBC children's educational program, Deadly Art, where she brought animals to life through large-scale artworks.

Pedro Mira

Portugal

Pedro was born in 1970 in Lisbon, where he studied sculpture and photography. His artistic career began in the early 1990s and he has since exhibited his works in various events. He has worked in silver, photography, design and sculpture, using various materials. He has also worked with other artists, sculpting and developing skills through the use of different techniques. Over the past 15 years, he has worked with sand at major festivals around the world.

Hanneke Supply

Belgium

After studying interior design in Gent, Hanneke began sculpting different materials from 2002 gradually expanding her scope of work. She is a passionate modeler of all kinds of materials and has traveled the world to show her work and her skills in many places.
She has recently begun to explore the world of graphics as well and has become a versatile illustrator.

Enguerrand David

Belgium

Enguerrand has always felt attracted to space design. Initially fascinated by architecture and historical heritage, he gradually opened up to the art of sculpture thanks to his university training as an art historian and archaeologist. He discovered the art of sculpting on sand, ice and snow in 1999. Since then, he has traveled the world in the company of colleagues who have quickly become his best friends.
Enguerrand is known for his multidisciplinary skills (illustrative representations, abstractions, landscape, etc.) and for his desire to experiment (high reliefs, false perspective effects, etc.).
He also organized and directed several small sculpture events in Belgium.

Jakub Zimacek

Czech Republic

Jakub began sculpting sand on the beaches of southern Spain during a trip in 2003. In 2005 he participated in his first international sand sculpture festival in Portugal. He creates sand sculptures for world events, winning numerous awards in international competitions.

Nikolai Torkhov

Russia

Nikolai studied sculpture at the Moscow Art Institute from 2006 to 2012, receiving a scholarship. He has been a member of the Union of Artists of Russia since 2016 and has actively participated in national and international exhibitions since 2000, with over 100 projects in more than 35 countries. Since 2019, he has been a member of the Ryazan Art Council. In 2020, he created the bronze sculpture "Ryazan Kosopuz", a symbol of the city. He works with traditional and unusual materials, bringing the Russian tradition of sculpture to urban art; his works are held in private collections in Russia and abroad.

Wiaczeslaw Borecki

Ukraine

Freelance sculptor with over 26 years of experience. After graduating, he worked in the Sculpture Department of the Poznan Academy of Fine Arts in Poland. Since 1996 he has participated in numerous sand, snow and ice sculpture festivals and competitions around the world, winning numerous awards. He also works with the materials of bronze, stone, resin and ice. His works have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in many European countries.

Vadim Gryadov

Russia

Born in Russia in 1983 currently lives in the Netherlands.
He graduated with a Master of Architecture from the Ural State University of Architecture and Arts. For the last ten years he has been living in Rotterdam with his Dutch wife and son. Since 2003 he has been making sculptures in a variety of different materials and since 2008 he has been doing it as a full time job.

Inese Valtere

Latvia

Sculptress Inese studied at a small-town art school, then at the J. Rozentala College of Art, specializing in painting and drawing, and finally at the Latvian Academy of Art, where she earned a bachelor's and master's degree in sculpture. She favors the creation of three-dimensional forms, supported by drawing to develop ideas. She has taught drawing and painting to children and visual design, developing her skills through numerous art projects and festivals.

Charlotte Koster

Netherlands

Charlotte graduated in 2000 from the St. Joost Academy of Art and Design in Breda with a degree in sculptural and monumental design. She works as a sculptor and independent artist, using materials such as snow, ice, concrete, and sand. Her sand sculptures, characterized by a rough, figurative style, have led her to travel the world for international collaborations. She is also known for her rough, hand-sculpted North Sea wave sculptures, which combine classical and industrial aesthetics with Rococo and archaeological references. Her first monumental sculpture was installed in Denmark. She designed a suite for the Arctic Icehotel.