SWITZERLAND
Beatrice Sartori is an artist who brings to life worlds filled with harmony, dreams, and the subtle beauty of nature through her mastery of paper and color. Her creations are more than just visual delights; they serve as a bridge between reality and imagination, inviting self-reflection and reminding us of essential values—respect, peace, and connection with nature. As an artist who blends precision and intuition, Beatrice crafts each piece with meticulous attention to detail while nurturing a free spirit fueled by the boundless inspiration of everyday life. In this exclusive interview, she shares her creative process, her deep ecological awareness, and how writing for young readers nourishes her collage art. Through her words, we discover a glimpse of her world—a world where dreams and reality dance in harmony, offering moments of tranquility and inspiration.
Your artistic process seems to be a blend of precision and intuition. How do you approach the creative process? Do you need certain moments of inspiration, or does your work often arise spontaneously from everyday observations?
My inspiration is spontaneous and intuitive, often guided by scraps of paper resulting from my cutting work. These pieces, with their unexpected shapes, become the triggers for new ideas: a particular fragment captures my attention and sparks an image in my mind. I quickly sketch it to avoid letting it slip away. This sketch then becomes the starting point for a new composition. This process allows me to maintain a free yet attentive approach, where every detail of daily life can transform into a new visual story.
My process begins with a pencil drawing, which helps me establish the structure of the artwork and visualize its final appearance. Next comes the meticulous selection of colors. Once the shades are chosen, I redraw and cut out each detail on the selected papers. The assembly work can then begin: I adjust, arrange, and glue each element with precision. Some areas of my works can feature up to eight overlapping layers, creating effects of relief and depth while adding a tactile dimension to the image.
Lever de couleurs, Collages on paper, 40x50cm
Your art conveys a profound respect for nature and human relationships. What inspired you to explore themes of harmony and respect through collage? In your view, how can art deepen our understanding of these values?
Collage fascinates me for its ability to combine multiple cut-out elements to create a new and coherent subject; seeing these fragments come together in harmony is a gratifying and almost magical experience. Over time, this interaction with paper has grown into a true passion.
Through my collages, I aim to express values that are essential to me: respect, peaceful relationships, and raising awareness about environmental preservation. By creating images imbued with softness and simplicity, I strive to establish a subtle connection between art and nature, reminding us of the importance of protecting the world around us.
Art is a powerful medium for conveying messages, capable of reaching diverse audiences. The emotions it evokes create a universal language that opens the door to personal reflection.
I believe art has the ability to awaken awareness by confronting viewers with images or ideas. In this sense, art becomes a catalyst for change, encouraging everyone to reconnect with an inner truth or reconsider their perspective on the world.
The vibrant colors and abstract forms in your work make it both distinctive and unique. How do you choose the colors and shapes that dominate your compositions? Is there symbolism in your work that holds personal meaning for you as an artist?
I pay close attention to the choice of colors, as this step determines the harmony and atmosphere of the artwork. My approach is both intuitive and personal, relying on direct observation and experimentation. I start by defining a base palette, guided by the emotion I wish to convey. Then, I place samples of these colors side by side to evaluate their interaction. This helps me see whether the shades complement or contrast with each other, allowing me to adjust the palette until I achieve the desired balance.
In the beginning, my compositions were extremely detailed, with some including over 300 glued elements. However, over time, I felt the need to simplify my creations to highlight the essence of each shape and color. This exploration led me to embrace more graphic forms while working with papers of varying weights to create contrasts in density.
Certain motifs, such as flowers and stars, frequently appear in my works. To me, these elements evoke joy, delicacy, and well-being. I also enjoy representing birds, which symbolize freedom. Additionally, I associate color with life, as every shade carries the power to evoke emotion.
Les âmes soeurs, la tendresse, Collages on paper, 50x70cm
Your work reflects a strong ecological awareness, a value that is more crucial than ever today. How did you develop this sense of responsibility toward nature in your creative practice? Are there artists or movements that inspired you to use your art as a platform for ecological messaging?
My concern for the environment is naturally reflected in my creations, where I seek to encourage awareness of our connection to nature. This theme is always present in my mind and directly influences my creative process. Thus, when an unexpected shape emerges, it becomes part of my reflections on the beauty and fragility of nature. These spontaneous inspirations often translate into works that invite poetic contemplation of nature or reflection on its preservation.
My ecological commitment stems more from the necessity to protect the planet than from the direct influence of specific artists or movements. Most of the papers I use are 100% recycled. This choice of materials echoes my concern for conserving natural resources.
Alongside your collages, you are also dedicated to writing books for young readers. How do your experiences in writing intersect with your visual art? Is there a connection between the characters you create in your books and the themes present in your visual work?
The characters I create in my children’s books are not directly connected to the themes of my collages. However, writing for young readers allows me to maintain a sense of wonder about the world. When I imagine a story, I put myself in the shoes of the child who will discover it, aiming to offer them adventure, dreams, and fantasy.
This desire to transport others into a dreamlike universe is also reflected in my visual creations. My writing nourishes my collage art, and vice versa, as both share the same goal of telling stories and creating worlds that inspire escape.
By combining words and images, I invite readers and viewers alike to embark on a journey that is both visual and narrative. My two artistic practices complement each other, enriching one another in a shared quest for poetry and gentleness.
Your pieces, such as “L’arbre aux rêves” and “Vivre en harmonie,” often evoke a world of dreams and fantasy. As an artist, what does this fusion of reality and dreams mean to you? Do dreams and imagination provide you with additional inspiration for creating unique artistic visions?
I have always been driven by a vivid imagination and a strong taste for dreams. The imaginary world is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for me, allowing me to perceive inventive shapes in paper scraps and to let myself drift into daydreams that open the doors to calming universes. It is these inner worlds, nourished by calm, thoughts, and freedom, that guide the creation of my works.
By merging dream and reality, collage becomes a way to translate my imagination and reflections into images.
L'ARBRE AUX RÊVES, Collages on paper | 50x50 cm | 2023
Through your work, you convey a sense of tranquility and simple beauty. What do you hope viewers feel when they look at your pieces? What is your greatest hope as an artist regarding the impact of your creations?
Through my creations, I am deeply committed to bringing dreams, escape, and serenity. By combining meticulousness, emotion, and imagination, my greatest hope is to create a space in which the viewer can immerse themselves to find calm and well-being, while also opening a profound dialogue about kindness and our relationship with the world, so that everyone can find, beyond simple beauty, inspiration for a more soothing connection with themselves and their environment.
Hyppolyte, le troubadour des mers, 2024, Collages on paper, 50x40cm
Through her works, Beatrice Sartori offers more than just art—she brings a message of gentleness, the bond between humanity and nature, and the importance of inner peace. Her images are not merely layers of paper and color; they are an invitation to reconnect with ourselves and the world around us. Her dedication to detail, ecological consciousness, and poetic spirit permeate every piece, creating art that transcends the visual and touches the heart. Beatrice reminds us that art has the power to build bridges, inspire change, and open doors to an inner world filled with tranquility and beauty. At the end of this journey through her thoughts and creations, we are left captivated and inspired to find our own peace through the small moments of art and to remember what truly matters.
Photos: Beatrice Sartori