Rademakers Gallery | Anne von Freyburg

Anne von Freyburg

Anne von Freyburg (*1979, Velp, The Netherlands) is a London-based artist whose work challenges the traditional boundaries between fine art and craft, rethinking the role of textiles and decoration in contemporary art. Her practice delves into the intersection of femininity, beauty, and material culture, reinterpreting historical references—particularly Rococo art—through the lens of contemporary textile techniques. By combining tapestry, fashion fabrics, and painting, von Freyburg confronts societal notions of beauty, femininity, and the hierarchical structures of art.

Exploring Constructed Beauty
Von Freyburg’s work draws heavily on Rococo portraits, deconstructing the idealized depictions of women by artists like Fragonard and Boucher. In an era dominated by image-obsessed culture and evolving beauty standards, she questions how female identity is constructed through the female gaze. Her intricate use of textiles, including quilted fabrics, snake print, lace, and faux leather, symbolizes contemporary materials such as Botox or plastic surgery, distorting and reshaping these classical depictions. For von Freyburg, this exploration of opulence and excess parallels modern consumerism and self-indulgence, making her work a reflection on the evolving nature of identity in the digital age.

Textiles as a Narrative Tool
In her work, textiles become both a conceptual and material force. Von Freyburg’s use of fabrics—ranging from Rococo-style tapestries to modern fashion materials—bridges the gap between high and low art, craft, and fine art. By collaging fabrics onto painted canvases, she reclaims textile and decoration as vital elements in art-making, celebrating their material qualities and historical significance. Through this technique, she challenges the gendered associations of textiles as feminine and frivolous, bringing them to the forefront of her visual language. Her work serves as a critique of fast fashion and consumer culture while also celebrating the tactile, sensuous nature of materials.

Inspiration and Studio Practice
Von Freyburg’s background in fashion design has profoundly influenced her practice. After studying fashion at ArtEZ University in Arnhem (1997–2001), she transitioned into fine art, recognizing that textiles and craft could serve as powerful vehicles for conceptual expression. Her process involves an intuitive approach to collaging fabrics, often manipulating Rococo paintings using Photoshop to create blueprints for her pieces. The layering of fabrics is an organic process that allows her to explore the possibilities of color, texture, and print, continuously pushing the boundaries of what textiles can achieve in the realm of fine art.

Daily Routine and Studio Life
Working between her home and studio in South London, von Freyburg spends much of her time sewing and collaging fabrics onto painted canvases. Her routine is a mix of hands-on fabric work and digital manipulation, where she sources and reinterprets historical imagery. This blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology allows her to explore the formal aspects of her work while challenging preconceived notions of femininity and beauty.

Education