Katrien Mestdagh

Atelier Mestdagh

Stained glass maker

©Laila Pozzo - MFCC FCMA Living

©Ingrid Meyvaert

Stained glass for the modern world

The workshop restores stained glass and makes new pieces
Katrien followed her grandfather and parents into the business
She believes in modern applications of stained glass

Katrien Mestdagh is a stained glass artisan who also holds a master’s in stained glass conservation and heritage management. She represents the third generation of Atelier Mestdagh, which was founded in 1947 by her grandfather Albert, who had trained in one of the most important Neo-Gothic workshops in Ghent. After Albert passed away in 1972, his son Luc took over the business, preserving the same techniques and knowledge that his father and his master craftsmen had taught him. Luc’s wife Ingrid Meyvaert, who specialises in designing stained glass windows, was always at his side. Thanks to her, the workshop started to use stained glass in modern architecture, thus matching traditional craftsmanship with contemporary innovation.

Interview

Katrien, when did you develop a passion for stained glass?: As a child I was very fascinated by my father’s job, and I spent hours and hours in the workshop, learning with my eyes. But my father always refused to teach me because he didn’t want to push me into it, so I ended up getting a master’s in musicology.
So the decision to take on this craft came later?: Precisely. I went back to my father and told him that I wanted to be involved in the workshop. I had to insist, but I did not want all this knowledge and history to be lost. So in the end he agreed to train me, and he taught me every aspect of the craft.
What is special about Atelier Mestdagh?: We are not just a conservation workshop, but we produce our own pieces and this to me is very important. In Belgium, most of the stained glass workshops choose either to do conservation or art, but I strongly believe that the two aspects really reinforce each other.
How important is it to be innovative?: Very. Sometimes we have to think out of the box, because many people consider stained glass as either religious or old-fashioned. In fact, because of the way it can transform the atmosphere of a home, I truly believe that stained glass can make people happy!

Katrien Mestdagh is a master artisan: she began her career in 2004 and she started teaching in 2008