RIA BLAAS

Born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, sculptor Ria Blaas was classically trained in the European tradition. She received her training at the Academy of Art in Breda and the Royal Academy of Art in Amsterdam and first visited Vermont in 1981 before moving there permanently in 1987. She has exhibited throughout New England and teaches workshops, classes, and leads residencies. Blaas's current work embraces exploration: she chisels, burns, and chainsaws wood to remove material and discover the form within. Just as wind and water can erode wood over time to a polished, stone-like surface, Blaas chooses how to expose the wood's surface — creating scarred, polished, and multifaceted textures that engage the viewer. Some of her larger-than-life sculptures are placed within the landscape, engaging with and becoming part of the natural world; others are in dialogue with internal spaces.