Bio

The Beginnings

While living in the worlds of music, then business, Catherine de Saugy, in her home by the ocean suddenly undertakes painting a trompe-l’oeil on wall. It’s 1992, Miami, where anything is possible. A decorator passes by, likes it, and orders one for his window display. She is quickly commissioned by major hotels, hospitals, and banks, and the contracts follow one after another: Miami, Guatemala, San Salvador, Geneva. Perched between airplanes and her ladders, she is focused, observing, nourishes herself with techniques and beauty. She is happy. She writes: “When I picked up paintbrushes in 1992, I had no idea what they would do for me.” She is 46 y.o. and thinks “she should have done this all her life.”

In 1996

Catherine de Saugy accepted Claude Richoz’s challenge: to submit 40 paintings for a first exhibition in Geneva in October 1997. The abyss of adapting to “small formats” opened up before her. Memories of her surrealist earlier sketches prompted her to deepen and sharpen her drawing. Her imagination and hard work enabled her to deliver the 40 paintings on time. They were exhibited in one of the large lounges of the Hilton Hotel in Geneva… and more than two-thirds were sold. Infinite gratefulness to M. Claude Richoz for this new step.

A fine gallery, Il Canochiale in Milan (Italy) and Marbella, took a deep interest in her creations, which she gradually sold in her beautiful gallery. This was still a prosperous time for “Surrealism”.

But Catherine de Saugy has the soul of an explorer. She was then already broadening her horizons (please read Jacques Biolley’s essay). She began to paint imaginary landscapes. Exhibitions and sales: Berne.ch, Genève.ch, Allaman/Rolle.ch, Mühlheim.de, Vevey.ch, Marbella.es, Milano.it.

Each work is unique!

Catherine de Saugy creates calm and vibrant works, strong yet light, often described as “musical” because they suggest timelessness. Lighting plays an important role. The colors and voids on the transparent support create light and shadow on the wall, creating a sort of 3D effect. (Exhibitions and sales: Bürgenstock, Mumbai, Geneva, Cannes, Padova.it, Lausanne, Montreux.ch).

A Journey into Portraiture

Catherine also devoted herself to exploring portraits, in the form of “life trajectories,” of the personalities she has met and admired. (Prof. Dusan Didjanski : « A story of Europe » according to Denis de Rougement ». Patrick Aebisher and the development of EPFL-Lausanne. Mr. Hervé Dessimoz and extreme architecture, and Messrs. Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg
and their conviction in SOLAR IMPULSE).

In 2005 ...

Her search for fluidity and transparent mediums led her to master digital painting techniques. Self-taught, Catherine de Saugy studied ADOBE and COREL programs to merge her painting and digital tool: to dissolve passion into reason. She thus developed a highly personal and contemporary art, recognized by the 2011 PALM AWARD – Leipzig: Certificate of Excellence for outstanding achievement in the arts.

In 2018 ...

Catherine de Saugy discovered paintings by Jean Miotte, whose energy fascinated her. She felt drawn toward unexplored territories, amplified her gestures, complexified her lines, and approached, by the end of 2020, a “Musical and Cosmic Calligraphy,” as she calls her latest creations on paper. She is inviting you to discover these new works. A universe that she wants to be powerful, luminous, joyful, intriguing, dazzling.

Où voyez vous 
your work in 10 years from now

Excerpt from the interview of August 22, 2023, by Etienne Thomas

I hope my work inspires young people, students, scientists,
musicians, architects, engineers (…) to maintain faith in
their possibilities and their desire to find the best
solutions for a decent life on our planet.

From Miami to Geneva, from Mumbai to Salvador, collectors, financial institutions, government agencies, hospitals have acquired her imaginative and fascinating creations.

Bio