In her workshop on Rue Émile Banning, just steps from BECI, we meet Margaux Baert, a "paper artist" and craft designer. Amidst sheets of metallic paper, vibrant hues, and stacks of creations, this Brussels-based artist shapes paper as others would sculpt stone.
At Margaux Baert, l ’s studio, paper folds and unfolds. “Being a paper artist means working with paper in all its forms,” she says with a smile, cutting here and gluing there. “Unlike origami, which is strictly folding, I work with volume.” Around her, flowers of all sizes, animals, and insects fill the space, each piece seemingly ready to spring to life.
Margaux took the leap in 2020, right in the heart of the pandemic. “My business might never have become known if it weren’t for Covid,” she confides. Despite the uncertain times, her talent and connections quickly opened doors to collaborations with prestigious brands like Maison Natan, Uniqlo, Godiva, and most recently Prada, for whom she created paper flowers for the spring-summer 2023 collection. Today, the artist works with premium, sustainable, chlorine-free papers, all made in Europe.
An artist's life in Ixelles
In her Ixelles workshop, Margaux’s days are filled with commissions, creations, and well-deserved breaks in a neighborhood she enjoys for its welcoming vibe. “I try to get here by 9 a.m., check my emails first, then social media, and finally start working,” she explains, confidently sketching on paper. She cuts, folds, and assembles. An owl for a private order, a flower for a special project—Margaux’s daily routine is both demanding and creative.
Between creations, Margaux has plans beyond her own work. She offers drawing classes at her workshop and will soon open her doors on Saturdays in December for a "Christmas Market" featuring guest artists, including a ceramicist and a florist.
A community that lifts her up
It was at Good Morning 500, a weekly breakfast organized by BECI, that Margaux discovered a supportive community of entrepreneurs. “I loved the atmosphere! Before starting my day at the workshop, I enjoy meeting other self-employed people, discussing topics like management or even administrative aspects,” she says. Managing her business alone, she values this network of support. “Sometimes you just need advice on international invoicing, like this contract I had in Switzerland,” she notes, referring to the help she received from a BECI expert on accounting matters. “As an artist, it’s frustrating to spend so much time on administration—it’s just not our main focus. At BECI, we’re always kindly assisted,” she shares.
Surrounded by metallic shades and paper flowers, Margaux Baert shapes her world, fold by fold, in a studio where each creation springs to life under her skilled hands.
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Art is a guest at Good Morning 500, every third Thursday of the month! Check our agenda for more info. |