Artists 2026

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, he has competed alongside top professional sculptors from around the world, honing his technique and coordinating teams of artists. He is also a skilled ice and snow sculptor, creating works ranging from small-scale pieces to large-scale installations, and has won first place in various competitions. Since the summer of 2023 he has coordinated the artistic aspects of the sand sculpture projects in the city of Jesolo.

Susanne Marguerite Ruseler

Netherlands

A Dutch artist who has been working with sand since 2003, when she pursued her passion for sculpture. She also enjoys working with other materials such as ice, snow, and concrete. After completing her university studies in biology, she dedicated herself to sculpture full-time, participating in projects, events, and competitions around the world. In 2018 she was part of the team that created the Nativity scene for St. Peter's Square, donated to Pope Francis by the Municipality of Jesolo.

Marielle Heessels

Netherlands

From a young age, Marielle Heessels developed a passion for drawing, sculpture, and painting, the foundations of her later work as a sculptor and painter. She has always worked with diverse materials, but in 2006 she discovered sand sculpture, finding in this medium a fascinating way to express her passions and grow as an artist.

Radovan Zivny

Czech Republic

Born in the Czech Republic in 1973, he is a graphic designer and art teacher. He began working as a sand sculptor in 1997 and currently participates in the most prestigious international events dedicated to the medium. In recent years, he has also begun working with more traditional materials, such as wood, concrete, and iron. From 2010 to 2013, he served as artistic director of the Golden Sand Festival in Bulgaria. In 2018 he was part of the team that created the Nativity scene for St. Peter's Square, donated to Pope Francis by the Municipality of Jesolo.

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 sculptor who has been working with sand, snow, ice, concrete, and earth since 2006. Her journey began in Australia, where a volunteer opportunity sparked an enduring passion for sand sculpting. Since then, she has received numerous accolades, including gold medals at the World and European Sand Sculpting Championships. She lives in Leicestershire, England, where she balances her international career with family life. In addition to sculpting, she is a painter who creates murals, portraits, and two-dimensional artworks. She has also 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 Mira 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 Ghent, Hanneke Supply began sculpting with various materials in 2002, gradually expanding the scope of her work. She is passionate about working with a wide range of materials and has traveled the globe to showcase her work and skills. Recently, she has also begun exploring the world of graphic design, becoming a versatile illustrator.

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 Torkhov 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

Poland

Freelance sculptor with over 27 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, he currently lives in the Netherlands. He graduated with a Master's degree in architecture from the Ural State University of Architecture and Arts. For the past ten years he has lived in Rotterdam, with his Dutch wife and son. Since 2003 he has been making sculptures in a variety of different materials and has been doing this full-time since 2008.

Agnese Rudzite

Latvia

Agnese Rudzite is a Latvian sculptor. She earned a Master’s degree in Sculpture from the Art Academy of Latvia in 2007. She has exhibited in both solo and group shows and has participated in projects, symposia, and festivals in Latvia and numerous other countries, including Japan, Germany, Italy, France, the United States, and Cape Verde. Her artistic practice spans a variety of materials, ranging from metal (her preferred medium) to stone, wood, bronze, ice, snow, sand, and fire. In recent years, she has focused primarily on ephemeral materials, using them to create monumental, site-specific works. The female figure and nature are central themes in her work; her pieces explore emotions, the relationship with the environment, and the transformation of natural forms, moving between realism and abstraction.

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.

Dmitry Klimenko

Russia

Born in 1979 in Rostov-on-Don, one of the largest cities in southern Russia. He graduated in 2004 from the St. Petersburg State Academy of Industrial Art and Design, where he obtained a Master's degree in the Department of Monumental Arts. Sculptural art has always been his favorite artistic expression. In 2004 he was asked to replace a sculptor at the sand sculpture competition in St. Petersburg, marveling at this material so malleable and temporary and so different from the academic style that it became his main profession.