Rademakers Gallery | Carla van de Puttelaar

Carla van de Puttelaar is a Dutch photographer whose work explores the human body, light, and material presence. Her practice is defined by a sensitive and tactile approach to photography, in which skin, texture, and surface become central elements. Working primarily with natural light, she creates images that emphasize subtle variations in tone and form, resulting in compositions that feel both intimate and precise.

A defining aspect of her work is the use of northern daylight, which allows for a soft yet detailed rendering of the body. Through this approach, van de Puttelaar captures the surface of the skin with a high level of clarity, revealing marks, textures, and tonal shifts that are often overlooked. This focus on physical detail contributes to a broader exploration of vulnerability, presence, and perception.

Her work often moves between portraiture and more abstract studies of the body.

Rather than presenting the figure as a fixed identity, she approaches it as a landscape of form and light. This perspective creates a visual language in which the boundaries between representation and abstraction remain fluid. Alongside the body, natural elements such as flowers appear throughout her work, often depicted at moments of transition, reinforcing themes of fragility and temporality.

Portraiture forms an important part of her practice. Both commissioned and autonomous works are characterized by a strong sense of focus and restraint, where expression is conveyed through minimal gesture and careful composition. The resulting images emphasize presence and attention, creating a direct yet quiet connection between subject and viewer.

Her collaboration with fashion designer Iris van Herpen, presented in the Synergia series, reflects an expansion of her practice into the dialogue between photography, fashion, and sculptural form. In this work, material, movement, and body are brought together, resulting in images that highlight transformation and ephemerality.

Van de Puttelaar’s work has been widely recognized and exhibited internationally. Her photographs are distinguished by their balance between technical precision and emotional resonance, positioning her practice within a contemporary continuation of painterly traditions, while remaining firmly grounded in the photographic medium.