About Pierre Caille
Pierre Caille (1911-1996) was a pioneer in the field of ceramic sculpture in Belgium. After completing his studies at the Academy of Tournai in 1936, he was invited by Henri van de Velde to work at the Boch pottery, where he first discovered ceramics, a medium that would define his career. Early on, he received a prestigious commission for a monumental work for the Belgian pavilion at the 1940 New York World Exhibition. As a visionary educator, Caille established Belgium's first comprehensive ceramics workshop at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture et des Arts Visuels de La Cambre, shaping generations of young artists.
Renowned for his 'potter-painter' style, Caille used pottery, glazed earthenware, enamel and stoneware to create works that represented people from different cultures with a naïve and innocent aesthetic. His schematic motifs exuded a sense of universality and simplicity. While ceramics remained his primary focus, Caille's artistic curiosity led him to explore other mediums, including jewelry design, painting, writing, bronze sculpture, lacquered wood, and theatrical set and costume design. Pierre Caille's innovative vision and multifaceted talent made a lasting mark on Belgian modern art.