Floral arrangements are fleeting sculptures; more like flowery ephemeral architectures of color, form, and emotion. For Chantal Post, the Belgian representative to the World Cup Floral Art 2025—running from August 28 to 31, in The Hague—flowers are not simply design elements; they are also the core essentials through which she explores structure, harmony, and the poetry of nature. Her knack for floral artistry is a result of curiosity about how natural elements can be shaped, layered, and composed to elicit emotion and meaning.
A dynamic and passionate floral designer, Chantal’s artistry is not a tale of overnight success or inherited tradition, but rather one of audacious decisions and sustained reinvention. Beginning her career at a time before social media and global inspiration were the norm, she sought out new perspectives, briefly leaving behind her native Belgium to study in the Netherlands, where she discovered another world of innovative floral design. This formative experience became the basis of her creative identity. Now, as she prepares to represent Belgium at the Florint World Championship Floral Art 2025, her epic journey in floristry is cast in the spotlight.
From Local Roots to International Recognition
A native of Vielsalm in the Belgian province of Luxembourg, close to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Germany, Chantal’s love affair with flowers began more than two decades ago. Vielsalm, a municipality of Wallonia in the exceptionally natural environments of the Ardennes, a region known for its extensive forests, rough terrain, and rolling hills and ridges, is where she finds her inspiration and serenity. This strategic location at the intersection of international borders seems quite fitting for someone whose art goes beyond geographical boundaries and draws inspiration from diverse cultural influences.
For her, what started as a traditional floristry education in her home country would soon grow into something far more extraordinary. In those early days, inspiration was limited to nearby shops; there was no internet, no social media, and not even mobile phones to connect florists to the wider floral design space. A key moment for her came when she decided to pursue advanced studies in the Netherlands, obtaining a Master's Degree in Floral Art at Vught.
So, What Inspired Her to Become a Floral Artist?
“A career guided by passion and discovery,” she says unhesitatingly. Going to the Netherlands for training, she reflects, was a revelation and probably the best decision of her life. She discovered a universe of infinite possibilities, an innovative approach to floral art that completely transformed her vision of the profession. Back in Belgium, all she wanted was to transpose these experiences and build her own universe. It was an audacious move, one which required years of work and persistence to make a name and a place for herself in the industry.
Chantal:
“What has always fascinated me is the creation of floral structures and large-scale compositions. Such know-how is not acquired overnight: it requires passion, patience, and solid technical mastery. I have seen this, time and again, when giving courses: many want to learn, but few develop a real taste for this demanding art. I think this type of career is something that is imposed on us.
When you are truly passionate, you are constantly looking to surround yourself with inspiring professionals who are as invested as we are. A florist who is focused on commercial work will not necessarily feel this need. They will not seek to meet a world champion in floral art from Australia, because that is not what drives them. Their interest will be more focused on mass sales strategies, adapted to their business model.”
But, other than that, Chantal also says what she loves most about her profession is the diversity it offers. It allows her to explore different fields: scenography for events and product promotion, event planning such as weddings, basic commerce, and of course, floral art. This richness pushes her to constantly reinvent herself and push the limits. This journey has taught her that daring to explore, think outside the box, and push oneself are the keys to a successful floral career.
Thus, the international experience, basically, opened her eyes to infinite possibilities in floral design and completely transformed her vision of floristry. Upon returning to Belgium, Chantal established her floral boutique in Vielsalm in 2003. She has now celebrated over 22 years in the business. And, with the newfound knowledge and inspiration, she began creating her distinct artistic identity, determined to carve out her niche in the industry. She quickly expanded her scope, offering decorations for weddings and events, as well as collaborations with companies.
Chantal:
“My first project became a reality with the opening of my own shop. It was the first of many! Still, yet, always eager to share and learn, I lead workshops and, since 2021, have presided over the Belgian Florists' Union, Be-Florist, working to promote the profession. I am also an ambassador for the international group Floral Fundamentals. I'm committed to defending the values of my sector and promoting the artistic dimension of my profession.”
A competitor at heart, Chantal also participated in the Belgian Championships, winning silver in 2020 and gold in 2024. These would later open the doors for her participation in the 2025 World Floral Art Championship.
The Distinctive Style of a Master Florist
Chantal has a unique architectural approach to her arrangements. She specializes in creating elaborate floral structures and sculptures, with a masterful harmony of colors. Her work is characterized by a delicate balance between robustness and delicacy, solidity and fragility. It is resolutely decorative and based on creating structures from natural elements such as branches and a wide variety of vegetation. She approaches each of her creations with architectural precision, creating floral works that demand patience.
While she experiments with various techniques and materials, she consistently returns to natural materials, which bring her the greatest satisfaction. As a result, her distinctive approach has made her a sought-after designer for prestigious events and collaborations. She regularly works with notable partners, including Rachel Licata of Ma Plus Belle Histoire, Gaël Garcia Diaz, Martine Cosmétic, Domaine des Hautes Fagnes, and Restaurant K.
Signature Style and Creative Philosophy
Chantal’s work is easily recognizable—a blend of structural precision and organic elegance. Her signature style leans into ‘floral architecture,’ where natural elements like twisted branchages, dried grasses, and seasonal blooms form elaborate, sculptural compositions. She loves creating frameworks that stand beautifully on their own, even without flowers; this structure is the soul, and the flowers are its voice.
Her creative process is also both methodical and fluid. Each project begins with a flicker—a vision, a painting, or even the ambiance of a room. Then, in her mind, she sketches ideas, experiments with textures, and often lets materials guide her. A piece of weathered wood or a cluster of wildflowers might inspire an entirely new direction. It is this experimental ethos that has led to collaborations with different luxury brands, magazine features, and installations that are transformational.
Managing a Multidimensional Floral Career
Chantal's professional life is as richly textured as her floral creations. Away from running her boutique, she decorates private and professional events, conducts workshops, and of course serves as president of Be-Florist. She manages these diverse responsibilities through perfect planning and organization. For instance, courses for florists take place during quieter months (January to April), primarily at the beginning of the week. Events, especially weddings, concentrate between May and September, while corporate decorations fit between these different services.
She considers each project as a whole event and precisely evaluates the time needed for preparation and setup. This is supported by a color-coded annual calendar that she maintains on her wall to quickly identify each type of event, allowing her to allocate appropriate preparation time for different projects, from floral photoshoots to hotel decorations. Additionally, rather than viewing the commercial aspect of her work as a limitation to her creativity, she embraces it as an essential dimension of artistic expression. Still, for her, creating works of floral art also means giving them value and offering them to an audience. The challenge lies in combining passion with economic viability—a balance that makes her profession so rich and stimulating.
Of course, such an organization of work would not be possible without a team. She generally works with two others: one permanent person in the shop, another who assists in the preparation and travel, and in periods of high activity, she calls on freelance florists to strengthen the team.
The Journey to Competition: From Initial Hesitation to Taking up the Challenge
Despite her evident talent, Chantal was initially hesitant to enter the competitive world of floral design. While she had always been fascinated by the competitions and followed them with passion, she hardly dared to take the plunge. But everything changed in 2020 when she finally asked herself, "Why not me?" She entered her first competition and won the silver medal at the Belgian Championship.
When she learned that the next national championship would take place in September 2024, it was her children who enthusiastically encouraged her to register. This proved to be transformative. She went on to win the gold medal at the 2024 Belgian Flower Arranging Championship held at Alden Biesen Castle, becoming the Belgian Champion. This win secured her place as Belgium's representative at the World Cup Floral Art 2025.
Chantal:
“After winning this championship, I felt that the adventure should not stop there. It is a unique opportunity—and above all, it is the first time that a Belgian woman has reached this level of competition. This gave me the strength and conviction to go for it.”
The Global Stage at the World Cup Floral Art 2025
Preparing for her first competition of this magnitude, the Belgian florist maintains a grounded perspective. Her goal is to create work that reflects her artistic ability and that she is proud of. She plans thoroughly, both technically and mentally, striving to remain calm and focused while fully experiencing this unique opportunity.
Despite the precise constraints imposed by the different tests in the competition, she remains determined to be true to herself. She wants each of her creations to fully mirror her personality, her style, and her emotions. Rather than trying to convey a specific message, she believes in letting her work speak for itself, with sincerity and authenticity. "Touching or inspiring other professional florists and young students through her creations would already be a beautiful achievement, quite like a mark of victory," she admits. "Leaving a lasting imprint of my style and work in the floral industry, passing on my vision and art to future generations of creators, would be a true accomplishment for me."
Both Decorum and Marginpar are leading sponsors of the championship, and coincidentally, Chantal is already familiar with the products of both these brands. She appreciates Decorum especially for their reliability, presentation, freshness, and their great selection, which allows for great creative freedom. And for Marginpar, their global approach and philosophy of commitment to people, respect for local cultures, and the environment. These are values she deeply shares. She particularly enjoys working with Marginpar's delicate and refined flowers like Clematis and Astrantia, which bring poetry, lightness, and uniqueness to her compositions.
Essentially, while competing globally brings immense pressure, Chantal’s approach remains rooted in authenticity. Mental preparation is also key: meditation, technical rehearsals, and leaning on her support network to keep her grounded.
Chantal Post's Future Aspirations
The floral art and design industry is dynamic. And, staying innovative requires constant attention. For Chantal, the key lies in experimentation and curiosity, coupled with a global outlook of different floral styles and movements. This open-mindedness feeds her creativity, breaks habits, and helps her draw inspiration from designers from other regions. She believes that it is through testing, trying new approaches, and sometimes making mistakes that one creates something personal and new. Demonstrations, exchanges with other designers, and collaborations with specialized magazines also provide valuable opportunities to embrace this diversity and continually reinvent oneself.
Looking ahead, whether she wins the world title or not, Chantal's objective remains unchanged: to continue evolving. "In this profession, we never finish learning, creating, questioning ourselves," she muses. What remains a deep source of motivation for her is transmitting her passion, inspiring others, sharing emotions through her creations, and meeting inspiring and talented florists.
Above all, she aims to do a good job, remain faithful to her authenticity, and continue taking pleasure in her daily activities. What is important is to keep moving forward, always carried by love for her floral artistry. As the world of floral art turns its attention to The Hague from August 28 to 31, 2025, Chantal is ready to represent not just Belgium, but also her dedication to floristry and floral art.
All photos courtesy of Chantal Post.
