In her multidisciplinary work, Sarah Westphal explores notions such as time, perception, and consciousness. Space serves as a container and a projection screen for these elements. From exploring personal space to the fragile ecosystem of the underwater world, Westphal delves into questions about our relationship with our environement. These inquiries encompass topics such as the co-existence of multispecies, anthropocentrism, and the meaning of embodiment in the digital era.
Her work consists of multisensory installations of choreographed experiences and hybrid formats, where sculptures, photographs, video, light, and other entities act as agents to perform collaborations. With an evocative tactility and a heightened sense of sensuality, Westphal invites the audience to enter a state of concentration and awareness, and encourages them to become active participants. Westphal’s slow process of waiting and watching, where the gaze sees, feels, hears, and tastes, might serve as an antidote for reconnection with our environment, allowing us to discover new ways of living in and understanding the world through sensing and sense-making.
In remarkable in-situ installations, Westphal causes the given exhibition spaces to enter a dialog with their own history in a thoughtful way. She works with several important historical collections, with scientists and cultural heritage such as the collection of Albert Dubosq, the largest collection of historical opera sets in Europe; the iconic Villa Van Wassenhove by Juliaan Lampens; the impressive collection of medieval paintings of the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum in Cologne, one of the largest collections of this kind in the world; the master pieces in the special setting of the Mayer van den Bergh Museum in Antwerp; and also the old masters of the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent.

SARAH WESTPHAL
Sarah Westphal (DE) obtained a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts (MFA), 3D/Multimedia, Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK), Ghent (BE) in 2007 and a Higher Degree of Photography, Academy of Fine Arts, (DKO) Ghent (BE) in 2008. She is laureate of the Higher Institute for Fine Arts (HISK), Ghent (BE) since 2009. From 2015-17 she was researcher on 'The Black Cat Territory. Fictions and Frictions of Inhabited Space’, LUCA Faculty of the Arts, Ghent (BE). Furthermore she is a certified yoga and meditation teacher, KRI, Española (USA). 
SELECTION OF SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 Kortrijk Triennial, Texture Museum, Kortrijk (BE) (upcoming)
2021 Sarah Westphal: Forêt océanique, Kortrijk Triennial, Schouwburg Kortrijk (BE)
2020 Sarah Westphal: Still, The White House Gallery, Lovenjoel (BE)
2019 Sarah Westphal: The See Within - The Sea Within, Bogarden Chapel, Photo Festival Bruges (BE)
2019 Sarah Westphal: The Sea Within - The See Within, Setouchi Trienniale, Ogijima (JP)
2018 Sarah Westphal: Villa van Wassenhove, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle (BE)
2017 Sarah Westphal: Reading the Air, mariondecanniére, Antwerp (BE)
2017 Sarah Westphal: Untitled (Vertical Blinds) work in public, AZ Alma, Eeklo (BE)
2016 Sarah Westphal: Reading the Air, Kapo, Kanazawa Art Port, Kanazawa (JP)
2016 Sarah Westphal: Two Rooms of One’s Own, Molsdorf Palace, Kunsthalle Erfurt, Molsdorf (DE)
2016 Sarah Westphal: Visite I, private mansion, Ghent (BE)
2015 Sarah Westphal: Stubenfliege, B-ILD Architects, Brussel (BE)
2015 Sarah Westphal: Recent werk, behalve dit, Lokaal 01, Huis Happaert, Antwerp (BE)
2014 Sarah Westphal: Hintersteg, Be-Part: Platform for Contemporary Art, Waregem (BE)
2013 Sarah Westphal: Timpano, Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne (DE)
2013 Sarah Westphal: Allure Craquelure, Museum Mayer van den Bergh, Antwerp (BE)
2012 Sarah Westphal: Taxidermie, Galerie Zink, Berlin (DE)
2011 Sarah Westphal: Gehirn, Gestirn, Gestein, Rossi Contemporary, Brussels (BE)
2011 Sarah Westphal: Palimpsest, Museum of Fine Arts (MSK), Ghent (BE)
2011 Sarah Westphal: (Un)folding, Cultural Centre de Bogaard, Sint-Truiden (BE)
2009 Sarah Westphal: Interventions and Manipulations. Structure, Texture and Space, De Garage, Mechelen (BE)
2008 Sarah Westphal: Spiegelbild, Croxhapox, Ghent (BE)
2007 Sarah Westphal: Heimsuchen (The House), private mansion, Ghent (BE)
AWARDS / GRANTS / RESIDENCIES
2022 Artist in residence at Tokyo Arts and Space, Tokyo (JP)
2019 Artist in residence at Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris (FR)
2018 Artist Grant from the Flemish Community (BE)
2018 Working grant, Kundalini Research Institute, Espanola (USA)
2017 Artist in residence at Villa Van Wassenhove, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, 
Deurle (BE)
2016 Artist in residence at Center for Art & Architecture, Kanazawa (JP)
2016 Project Grant from the City of Ghent (BE)
2016 Selected for Turning Photography, Flanders Arts Institute (BE)
2015 Artist in residence at Laznia Centre for Contemporary Art, Gdansk (PL)
2015 Nominated for Bernd Lohaus Prize, Antwerp (BE)
2015 Travel Grant from the Flemish Community (BE)
2014 Artist in residence at Be-Part: Platform for Contemporary Art, Waregem (BE)
2013 Artist Grant from the Flemish Community (BE)
2012 Artist Grant from the Flemish Community (BE)
2011 Nomination Award, Provinciale Prijs Beeldende Kunst Oost-Vlaanderen, Ghent (BE)
2011 Winner of the Input/Output Award, Bruges (BE)
2011 Artist in residence at Be-Part, Waregem (BE)
2011 Project Grant from the Flemish Community (BE)
2011 Project Grant from the City of Ghent (BE)
2010 Winner of the AON Award, Ghent (BE)
2010 Artist Grant from the Flemish Community (BE)
2009 Artist Grant from the Flemish Community (BE)
2007 Winner of the Franciscus Pycke Legacy Award, Ghent (BE)
SELECTION OF GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 In de ruimte tussen iets en niets, Valerie Troost Gallery, Oostend (BE)
2023 Private Views, Musée de La Boverie, Liège (BE)​​​​​​​
2023 A Pro Pot, Museum of Deinze en Leie Region (Mudel), Deinze (BE)
2023 Because Every House Tells a Story, Collection Das Dingenen, Duffel (BE)​​​​​​​
2022 Open Studios, Tokyo Arts and Space, Tokyo (JP)
2021 Digital Corporeality, Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab, Taipeh (TWN) 
2021 Abstracte kunst bestaat niet, Emergent, Veurne (BE) 
2019 More / more / more contra less / less / less contra love / love and feeling, One, Mariakerke (BE)
2019 Vrouwen 2 Women, Belle Godshuis, Ieper (BE)
2019 UnDoing, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester (GB)
2019 De la tranquillité / Van het verpozen, Centre culturel de Marchin, Marchin (BE)
2019 De la tranquillité / Van het verpozen, Emergent, Veurne (BE)
2018 Food Matters, Croxhapox, Ghent (BE)
2018 Straf! Palace of Justice, Ghent (BE)
2018 KRASJ, Ninove (BE)
2018 ArtAutun#2018, Autun (FR)
2018 On the move, Blanco, Ghent (BE)
2018 20 years Nicc, Nicc, Antwerp (BE)
2018 Art Rotterdam, mariondecanniére, Antwerp (BE)
2017 Tussen Muren, Art Academy, Tielt (BE)
2017 Ecce Homo, Geukens De Vil & mariondecanniére, Antwerp (BE)
2017 Tinto. Without Tinto, private house, Brussels
2017 The Poetics of Weather, Hoenji Shrine, Kanazawa (JP)
2017 Disclosure, Monastery, Tielt (BE)
2017 Working Title Festival, Recyclart, Brussels (BE)
2016 Kanazawa art space link, Artgummi Gallery, Kanazawa (JP)
2016 Waiting For The Secret, Les Halles St-Géry, Brussels (BE)
2016 Convent 22, VAC, Ghent (BE)
2015 Working Title Situation #02, Kaaistudio's, Brussels (BE)
2015 So Let’s Retreat Memory Lane, Villa De Olmen, Wieze (BE)
2015 Land van Garage, Land van Waaslaan # 122/124, Ghent (BE)
2015 Full House, Kunsthalle Erfurt - Molsdorf Palace, Molsdorf (DE)
2015 Ename Actueel 2015, Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum (PAM), Velzeke (BE)
2015 Imago Mundi: Germany, mon amour! Fondazione Benetton Studi Ricerche, Treviso (IT)
2015 Meanwhile… the city, Łaźnia Centre for Contemporary Art, Gdańsk (PL)
2014 De Zee - salut d'honneur Jan Hoet, project Ambassadeurs van de zee, Oostende (BE)
2014 Borg, Peperbus church, Antwerp (BE)
2014 Tussenwereld, Crematoria of Sint-Niklaas and Lochchristi (BE)
2014 Encyclopedia of Tenderness, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (DE)
2013 Ik wordt, Voorkamer, Lier (BE)
2012 Sint-Jan, Saint-Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent (BE)
2012 Provinciale Prijs Beeldende Kunst Oost-Vlaanderen, Caermersklooster, Ghent (BE)
2012 Tapisserie ou papier peint? Un art contemporain, Musee de la Tapisserie, Doornik (BE)
2012 BOOKSHOWBOOKSHOP: Belgian artists’ books from Verheyen until today, Be-Part, Waregem (BE)
2011 Input/Output, Cultural Centre De Bond, Brugge (BE)
2011 Ename Actueel 2011 – Sediment, Provinciaal Archeologisch Museum (PAM), Velzeke (BE)
2010 Huiselijkheid, Roger Raveel Museum, Machelen, Zulte (BE)
2010 In Situ, Nucleo, Ghent (BE)
2010 Watou 2010. Collected Stories #02 / Between Language and Image (Past in Present), Watou (BE)
2010 After the Fact, Galerie Sans Titre, Brussels (BE)
2010 From Memory. About Knowing and Forgetting, Museum Dr. Guislain, Ghent (BE)
2009 La Conquête de l’Espace, Higher Institute for Fine Arts (HISK), Ghent (BE)
2009 Cabinet d’Artistes, Galerie Sans Titre, Brussels (BE)
2009 Watou 2009. Collected Stories #1 (Polyphony), Watou (BE)
2009 Temporary City/Berlin, Kunst in Kreuzberg e.V, Berlin (DE)
2009 Open Studios, Higher Institute for Fine Arts (HISK), Ghent (BE)
2008 Open Studios, Higher Institute for Fine Arts (HISK), Ghent (BE)
2007 Coming People, S.M.A.K, Ghent (BE)
2007 Fin, Netwerk: Centre for Contemporary Art, Aalst (BE)
2007 Heimsuchen, Croxhapox, Ghent (BE)

TALKS / LECTURES
Lecture, On Storytelling, LUCA Faculty of the Arts, Ghent (BE) 11/21
Klara radio interview with Nicky Aerts in Pompidou 24/06/2021
https://klara.be/herbeluister-pompidou-24-juni-2021-live-op-paradise-kortrijk
Klara radio interview with Nicky Aerts in Pompidou 5/03/2020
https://klara.be/pompidou-donderdag-5-maart-2020
Lecture, Visite II, Sarah Westphal and Prof. Lut Pil, Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle (BE) 03/18
Lecture Sarah Westphal. Geplooide ruimte, Prof. Lut Pil, KU Leuven, Faculty Architecture, Ghent (BE) 12/18
Lecture Gerijmd Ongerijmd, seminar Historisch Interieur & Ontwerp 2018, Sarah Westphal and Prof. Lut Pil, Ghent University (BE), Department of Art, Music and Theater Sciences 04/18
Lecture The Black Cat Territory. Fictions and Frictions of Inhabited Space, Ghent (BE) 03/17
Lecture The Pliable Moment. The making of social and artistic fabric, Prof. Lut Pil, Dutch Design Week, Eindhoven (NL) 10/16
Lecture Shifting Postions, Sarah Westphal and Prof. Lut Pil, University Antwerp, Faculty Design Sciences, Antwerp (BE) 03/16
Talk Recent werk, behalve dit, Sarah Westphal and Prof. Lut Pil, Huis Happaert, Antwerp (BE) 09/15
Klara radio interview with Olav Grondelaers in Happy Hour 24/10/14
Vlaanderen vakantieland:  Interview with Nic Balthazar about Allure Craquelure, Museum Mayer van den Bergh, Antwerp (BE) in: Kunstschatten verzamelen in Antwerpen 02/14
http://www.een.be/programmas/vlaanderen-vakantieland/kunstschatten-verzamelen-in-antwerpen

TEACHING
2023 Jury, Faculty Design Sciences, University of Antwerp (BE)
2022 Jury, Department of Visual Arts, LUCA Faculty of the Arts, Ghent (BE)
2019 Jury, Department of Visual Arts, LUCA Faculty of the Arts, Ghent (BE)
2018 Guest lecturer/tutor, Faculty Design Sciences, University of Antwerp (BE)
2016 Guest lecturer/tutor, Faculty Design Sciences, University of Antwerp (BE)
2016 Jury, Department of Photography, LUCA Faculty of the Arts, Ghent (BE)
2015 Guest lecturer/tutor, Faculty Design Sciences, University of Antwerp (BE)
2015 Guest lecturer, Department of Photography, Academy of Fine Arts, Bruges (BE)
2015 Jury, Department of Multimedia Design, School of Arts, Ghent (BE)
2014 Guest lecturer/tutor, Faculty Design Sciences, University of Antwerp (BE)
2013 Jury, Department of Photography, Academy of Fine Arts, Ghent (BE)
2012 Jury, Canvas Collectie, S.M.A.K., Ghent (BE)
2012 Guest lecturer, Department of Sculpture,  Academy of Fine Arts, Waasmunster (BE)
TEXTS
Pil, L.: Forêt asiatique - Forêt océanique: verstrengeling in het kwadraat, 2021 (NL)
Pil, L.: Forêt asiatique - Forêt océanique: Immersed, Entwined, Entangled, 2021 (ENG)
Pil, L., & Westphal, S.: Perfectly Unadorned, Sarah Westphal in interactie met de woning Van Wassenhove, 2021 (NL) (peer reviewed)
Min, E.: Sarah Westphal, Still, 2020 (NL)
Maes, F.: Vatbaar en ongrijpbaar, leeg en vol, Sarah Westphal in de Bogardenkapel, 2019 (NL)
Pil, L.: Ruimte lezen, 2017 (NL)
Pil, L.: Reading Space, 2017 (ENG)
Opitz, S.: Stubenfängerin oder Die Fliegen der Sarah Westphal, 2017 (DE)
Opitz, S.: Parlor Catcher, or: The Flies of Sarah Westphal, 2017 (ENG)
Somers, I.: Een attitude van interiorist, 2017 (NL)
Somers, I.: An Interiorist Attitude, 2017 (ENG)
Pil, L.: Reflecting Rooms, 2016 (ENG)
Pil, L.: Reflektierende Räume, 2016 (DE)
Rummens, M.: Het heimelijke bewonen. Over Hintersteg van Sarah Westphal, 2014 (NL)
Pil, L.: Beelden in beweging, 2011 (NL)
Pil, L.: Images in Motion, 2011 (ENG)
Van den Braembussche, A.: Een poëtica van de ruimte. Enkele basismotieven in het werk van Sarah Westphal, 2011 (NL)
Van den Braembussche, A.: A Poetics of Space. Some Basic Motifs in Sarah Westphal’s Work, 2011 (ENG)
Jacobs, S.: Sarah Westphal en de fysionomie van het burgerlijke interieur in het Museum Mayer van den Bergh, 2013 (NL)
Jacobs, S.: Sarah Westphal and the Physiognomy of the Bourgeois Interior in the Museum Mayer van den Bergh, 2013 (ENG)
Krischel, R.: Timpano, Sarah Westphal in der Mittelalter-Abteilung des Wallraf, 2013 (DT)
Verhelst, P.: Ik herinner me dat je, Peter Verhelst bij het werk van Sarah Westphal, 2012 (NL)

PUBLICATIONS
Maet, F., & Pil, L. (2022). On things and thinking: design and nature. On things and thinking: design and nature. https://things-design-nature.net
Ronse, P., & Teerlinck, H. (2021). Paradise Kortrijk 2021. MER.paperkunsthalle.
Westphal, S., & Pil, L. (2021). Forêt asiatique - Forêt océanique. Studio Sarah Westphal.
Pil, L., & Westphal, S. (2021). Perfectly Unadorned, Sarah Westphal in interactie met de woning Van Wassenhove. Tijdschrift Voor Interieurgeschiedenis en Design, 43, 121–140. https://doi.org/10.2143/GBI.43.0.3289236 (peer reviewed)
Setouchi Triennale 2019. (2020). Seigensha Art Publishing.
Input/Output, Jonge Kunst in de kijker 2005–2019. (2019). Cultuur Centrum Brugge.
Stone, S., Pendergast, M., Emery, T., & Sanderson, L. (2019). UnDoing. MSA Press.
De Caigny, S. (Ed.). (2018). This is a Mustard Factory: Flanders Architectural Review n°13 (13th ed.). VAi.
Depla, M., & Reniere, P. (Eds.). (2018). Art Autun. Éditions Snoeck.
Van den Braembussche, A. (2018). Alles komt terug. Uitgeverij P. (book cover)
Rinckhout, E. (2018). Ecce Homo: Behold the Man. Cannibal Publishing.
Esner, R., & Konijn, F. (Eds.). (2017). Curating the Collection. Stedelijk Studies, 5. 
Flanders Arts Institute (Brussels). (2017). Turning Photography. Turning Photography. https://turningphotography.be/#profile/sarah-westphal
Pil, L., & Westphal, S. (2017). The Black Cat Territory. LUCA School of Arts.
Opitz, S. (Ed.). (2016). Maria Von Gneisenau and Molsdorf Palace. Two Rooms of One’s Own. Revolver. (shortlisted by Stiftung Buchkunst as most beautiful books of the year 2017)
Noever, P., Benetton, L., & Brock, B. (2016). Germany, mon amour! Contemporary in Germany. Art. Architecture. Design. Antiga edizioni.
Opitz, S. (Ed.). (2015). Full House. Revolver Publishing.
Van den Bogaard, O., & Van der Donckt, M. (Eds.). (2015). Ritualia. Archeologisch Museum Ename, Province East Flanders.
Viaene, P., & Vandenkerkhove, H. (Eds.). (2015). Land van Garage. Den Boulevard.
Van den Bogaard, O. (2015). The Institute. Lannoo Publishers.
Marie, S. (2014). Altijd een raam (1ste ed.). Uitgeverij Vrijdag. (book cover)
Dhondt, R. (2014). Tussenwereld. IGS Westlede & MER.
Brannys, A., & Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. (2014). Enzyklopädie des Zarten. Enzyklopädie des Zarten. http://daszarte.de/index.html
Jacobs, S., Westphal, S., & Museum Mayer van den Bergh (Antwerp). (2013). Sarah Westphal Allure Craquelure. Historische collectie hedendaags uitgelicht. Museum Mayer van den Bergh.
Krischel, R. & Wallraf-Richartz-Museum & Fondation Corboud (Cologne). (2013). Sarah Westphal Timpano. Wallraf-Richarts-Museum & Fondation Corboud.
Vergaert, F., & Verfoort, S. (Eds.). (2013). Lokaal 01 - 2013. Lokaal 01.
Verhelst, P. (2012). Ik herinner me dat je, Peter Verhelst bij het werk van Sarah Westphal. Studio Sarah Westphal.
Hoet, J., & Martens, H. (2012). Sint Jan. Borgerhoff & Lamberights.
Van Pee, L. (Eds.). (2012). Provinciale Prijs Beeldende Kunst 2011. Province East Flanders.
Pil, L., & Van den Braembussche, A. (2011). Sarah Westphal Palimpsest. Studio Sarah Wesphal.
Martens, H., & Van der Donckt, M. (Eds.). (2011). Sediment. Archeologisch Museum Ename, Province East Flanders.
Marie, S. (2011). Toen je me ten huwelijk vroeg. Uitgeverij Vrijdag. (book cover)
Museum Dr. Guislain (Ghent). (2010). Uit het geheugen. Lannoo Publishers.
Watou. 2010 Tussen Taal en Beeld Verzamelde Verhalen #02. (2010). Borgerhoff & Lamberigts.
Watou 2009. Tussen Taal en Beeld Verzamelde Verhalen #01. (2009). Borgerhoff & Lamberigts.
Van den Bogaard, O. (2009). La onquête de l’espace. Higher Institute for Fine Arts.
Van Gerrewey, C., & Tas, N. (Eds.). (2009). Temporary City Berlin. Revolver Publishing.
Westphal, S. (2007). Zwischendenräumen - Tussenderuimtes – Inbetweenspaces. Studio Sarah Wetphal.

SELECTION OF ARTICLES 
Braet, J. (2021, August). Jan Braet kijkt naar kunst en het leven, in bloei en verval, zoals de rozen. Deze week: de Triënnale voor actuele kunst Paradise Kortrijk 2022. Knack, 96.
Wilcox, M. (2019, August 19). Scattered over 12 islands, Japan’s Setouchi Triennale offers poignant reflections of local life by the sea. The Art Newspaper. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/review/setouchi-triennale
McElhinney, D. (2019, August 16). 2019 Setouchi Triennale: Revitalizing Japan’s Art Islands. Tokyo Weekender. https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2019/08/2019-setouchi-triennale-revitalizing-art-islands-seto-inland-sea/
Gerrie, A. (2019, July 30). Regenerating Japanese islands through art: the Setouchi Triennale - DesignCurial. Design Curial. http://www.designcurial.com/news/review-setouchi-triennale-7318029/
M. (2019, July 5). Setouchi Triennale 2019 - Top 5 Works Of Art On Display In Spring. MATCHA - JAPAN TRAVEL WEB MAGAZINE. https://matcha-jp.com/en/7361
Demetriou, D. (2019, June 11). The Setouchi Triennale and the power of art and nature in Japan. SilverKris. https://www.silverkris.com/setouchi-triennale-art-nature-japan/
Billa, D. (2019, March). Sarah Westphal on Ogijima. Setouchi Explorer.
https://www.setouchiexplorer.com/sarah-westphal-on-ogijima/
De Mey, L. (2018, February 22). Kunstintegratie in ziekenhuizen. Hart, 21.
Van Canneydt, H. (2018, January 12). ECCE HOMO, Antwerpen. Trendbeheer.
https://trendbeheer.com/2018/01/12/ecce-homo-antwerpen/
Poels, A. M. (2014, November 6). Een kat op tafel, water in de kelder. Sarah Westphal bouwt ‘Hintersteg.’ Hart, 5,7. (magazine cover)
Bakkers, G. (2014, October 15). Sarah Westphal in Be-Part, Waregem. Trendbeheer.
http://trendbeheer.com/2014/10/15/sarah-westphal-in-be-part-waregem/
Braet, J. (2014, January 8). Schilderen met Licht. Sarah Westphal in museum Mayer van den Bergh. Knack, 78–81.
Poels, A. M. (2013, December 19). De collectie van Fritz leven ingeblazen. Sarah Westphal in Museum Mayer van den Bergh. Hart.
Mundell, I. (2014, January 9). Sarah Westphal subverts Mayer van den Bergh collection. Flanders Today. http://www.flanderstoday.eu/art/sarah-westphal-subverts-mayer-van-den-bergh-collection
Schramm, S. (2013, November 21). Räume enthüllen Unheimliches Heim. Rheinische Post.
Sarah Westphal - Timpano, Zeitgenössische Fotokunst trifft alte Meister. (2013). Ring Foto Magazine, 12, 12.
Braet, J. (2010, January 27). Wat de hersenen zich herinneren. Knack, 62–66.
Baets, I. (2009, June 4). Afbreken en weer opbouwen. Open studio’s in het Hisk. Hart, 6.

↑Up