I was born in Wilrijk (Belgium) in 1970. My grandmother was an artist in drawing in Germany, my father was an artist specialized in Chinese ink creations, as well as my late brother, Ivo Staes.

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I grew up as the little dreamer along two big brothers.  At school, teachers wrote at every result "Katja is dreaming too much", not knowing I was subconsciously "creating" in my mind.  After a protected childhood with a mom at home to take care of us and a hard working dad, I spread my wings at 18 and discovered the world… travelling all over!  There were "no more limits" and in all those countries I made friends and I learned to appreciate and feel the history, culture and untouched nature… so it became a part of my daily life and soul.  Reading poetry and philosophy fed my brain.

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