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.

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.

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.

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.

Baldrick Richard Buckle

Great Britain

This professional sculptor, of British origin, now lives in Holland, where he began his career as a sand sculptor in 1996, founding the group Sandaholics Anonymous. He creates sculptures with the most varied materials, including snow, ice, bricks, cheese and chocolate. He has participated in the events organized in Jesolo since 2008.

Ilya Filimontsev

Russia

Born in Moscow in 1976, after studying art, he became a jewellery designer. At the same time, he also specialized in ice sculpting. He left his work as a jeweller to devote himself to the study of sculpture at the Moscow State Academic Art Institute in Surikov and is now one of the most popular sand artists in 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.

Dmitrii 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.

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.

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.

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.

Helena Bangert

Netherlands

Helena studied sculpture at the prestigious Rietveld Art Academy in Amsterdam, she herself admits that she has never considered sand sculpture. Two years after graduation, around 2000, she was contacted to create a sand sculpture for a retirement home for sailors. Since then, Helena has begun to specialize in this particular material. In 2002 she won the first prize at a sand sculpture festival in Italy. Since then Helena has continued to win awards for both sand and ice sculptures.

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.

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.

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.