1967, Zaandam, The Netherlands
Carla van de Puttelaars fine art photographs of the female nude are depictions of gentle erotism and sensuality that is unmistakably female in approach. She references the mythe of Galatea to explain their appearance. The story tells of the sculptor Pygmalion who carefully crafts his ideal woman from ivory and then falls in love with her. In this ultimate male fantasy the goddess Aphrodite grants his wish to make her a real woman.
Female flesh in van de Puttelaars work seems always to be arrested in the pivotal stage of metamorphosis between ivory and blood and tissue. Van de Puttelaars 'Galateas', her alabaster-skinned-beauties, however retain their realness through little hints of individuality, such as skinmarks, bruises and the imprint of underwear in the skin, which she believes add to their beauty and fragility, whilst also serving to draw the viewer in.
She photographs the nudes in an oblique way, teasing us with half-turned bodies, covering hands, closed eyes and details that are delicately sexy rather than overt. This approach also serves to emphasis the unattainable nature of the women - even when photographing faces their gaze is very rarely direct.
This dynamic between distance and intimacy creates the essential tension in her photographs.

Education
Gerrit Rietveld Academy, 1991-1996

Awards

Prix de la Photographie, Paris (Px3), Honorable Mentions in 2 categories (Fine Art and Book), 2009
The New York Photo Awards, nomination in the Fine Art single Image category, 2009
Le Prix Découverte des Rencontres d'Arles, nomination, 2006
Prix de Rome, basisprijs, 2002
Lee Photo Category Award, 1996
Esther Kroon Award, 1996

Selected Exhibitions

2010
‘Wasted’, Tomoko Mukaiyama, Photo projections at Parkstad Limburg Theaters, Heerlen
'Cranach series', Confluence, Galerie de la photographie contemporaine, Nantes
'Global Photography', Galleria Contemporaneo, Venice
The Netherlands Institute for Art History (RKD), The Hague

2009
Flatland Gallery, Utrecht
'Borstbeeld', Museum Square, Amsterdam
'Regards sur les corps', POLAR+NKA*photography, Brussels
'Global Photography', SI FEST, Savignano Immaqini Festival

2008
'Women As I See Them', Nessim Galéria, Budapest
'Galateas', Galerie de photographies du CHATEAU D'EAU, Toulouse

2006
'Galatea', Magasin des Ateliers, Arles
Van Zoetendaal Gallery, Amsterdam
Centre Culturel de Lillebonne, Lillebonne

2005
'De Menselijke Gedaante', AMC, Amsterdam
DIAPHANES, box galerie, Brussels

2003
Centrum Beeldende Kunst, Nijmegen
'Kwetsbare Kracht', Contempory Art Gallery, Laren

2002
Galeria Forvm, Tarragona, Spain

2001
Galerie Bodo Niemann, Berlin

2000
'Solo', Van Zoetendaal Collections, Amsterdam
Galerie Noorderlicht, Groningen

1998
'Portraits', Museon, Den Haag
'Portraits', Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Zoetermeer

Collections
Museum Winterthur
Caldic collectie
Huis Marseille museum voor fotografie, Amsterdam
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam SMCS, Amsterdam
Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, The Hague
ABN AMRO Kunststichting, Amsterdam
Akzo Nobel Art Foundation, Arnhem
AMC Brummelkamp Galerie en AMC-vitrines, Amsterdam
Galerie LUMC, Leiden
Randstad fotocollectie werk|work, Diemen
Erasmus universiteit, Rotterdam
Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris
NSM Vie/ABN AMRO, Paris
Galerie La Chateau d'Eau, Toulouse
Collection Hans Kemna
Collection Rafael Tous of Contemporary Arts, Spain