Au Chat d’Argile Waterloo : Passion at Your Fingertips

 
Interview with Aurore Declève: A Life Shaped by Passion

Wawa Magazine: Aurore, your journey is fascinating. How did you go from luxury hospitality to ceramics?
 

Aurore Declève: Yes, it was a real shift! After years in luxury hotel management, notably in palaces like the Ritz-Carlton in Palm Beach, the Métropole in Monaco, the Saint James in Paris... I felt the need to reinvent myself. COVID was a trigger: I wanted independence and to create something with my own hands. Alongside my career in hospitality, I took interior design classes.

It was there, while working on my graduation project, that I discovered clay. I then decided to deepen my knowledge of techniques related to this material for more than 10 years, first in English, then in French. Since then, clay has become my language and my refuge.
 

Wawa Magazine: Why did you choose to settle in Waterloo?

Aurore Declève: I was lucky enough to transform my grandparents’ villa into a creative space. My studio is full of family memories, which gives an even more personal dimension to my work.
 

Wawa Magazine: You also give classes in your studio. Can you tell us more about them?
 

Aurore Declève: Of course! I offer introductory classes on wheel throwing and hand-building. Participants follow the entire process: centering the clay, creating pieces, refining them, and finally glazing them—all in a cheerful atmosphere.

It’s a complete and very rewarding experience. I also offer themed workshops, such as creating bird feeders, mandalas, mug modeling, an appetizer set, a duo of plates...

Each workshop is designed to allow participants to thrive, whether through a creative moment or simply some time for themselves.

Wawa Magazine: What inspires your creations?
 

Aurore Declève: Japan is a great source of inspiration. I love the purity and simplicity of their forms and their zen aesthetics. Travel, gastronomy, nature, and even my pets also influence my work. I try to capture emotions and translate them into my pieces.

Wawa Magazine: You mentioned a boutique. What kind of pieces can we find there?
 

Aurore Declève: Yes, I set up a small boutique in my grandfather’s former wine cellar. You can find cups, vases, plates, bowls, decorative pieces, little cats, and many others—each one is unique. Every new piece is announced in the showcase section of my website auchatdargile.be

Wawa Magazine: What are your future plans?
 

Aurore Declève: I’d like to continue developing my studio by offering more themed workshops, maybe collaborating with other artists. As for my creations, I’d like to move toward design and interior decoration.

At the “Au Chat d’Argile” studio, every visit is an invitation to discover clay in a new light.

Whether it’s for an introduction to the wheel or hand-building, a themed workshop, or simply to explore the pieces displayed in her boutique, Aurore Declève has created a warm space where everyone can reconnect with their creativity.

So, let yourself be tempted by the experience and head to Waterloo to plunge your hands into Aurore’s inspiring world.
 

To learn more and book a workshop:

Adresse : "Au Chat d’Argile", Waterloo
48 avenue des perdrix 1410 Waterloo 

Site web : auchatdargile.be

Contact : +32 (0) 473 67 86 27

 info@auchatdargile.be

Instagram / Facebook : auchatdargile

Linktree : https://linktr.ee/auchatdargile
 

“Discover the magic of clay and leave with a creation that carries a part of your soul.”