An Artist Bridging Past and Present
Born in Munich in 1990, Schneider has built a formidable career in the Dutch art scene. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and recipient of the Keep an Eye Textile and Fashion Award in 2018, she has become known for revitalising techniques such as net-making, embroidery, passementerie, and tapestry. Yet, she does not simply preserve these crafts. She reinvents them, merging the past with the present by incorporating unconventional materials, many of which are reclaimed from industrial waste.
Schneider’s rise was accelerated by her 2023 solo exhibition at Rademakers Gallery, If You Know Who She Is, It’s Time for Botox. The show playfully reimagined Polly Pocket, the beloved ‘90s toy, into a life-sized critique of beauty standards. Using repurposed fishing ropes and other discarded materials, she created a world that was at once nostalgic and unsettling, reflecting on the artificial ideals of perfection ingrained in a generation raised on plastic, in every sense of the word.
For years, Schneider has been represented by Rademakers Gallery, a stronghold for innovative contemporary art and design. Her works are available both through the gallery’s website and in its physical space, continuing to attract collectors and institutions alike.
The Art of Sustainability and Reinvention
Sustainability is not just a theme in Schneider’s work, it is its core. She transforms discarded fishing nets, PET yarn, and industrial textiles into handwoven, sculptural artworks that feel as tactile as they are conceptually rich. Her commitment to craftsmanship and material innovation has earned her a place in esteemed collections, including the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Museum Jan in Amstelveen, CODA Museum in Apeldoorn, and the TextielMuseum in Tilburg. Her work has also been exhibited at leading international fairs, from VOLTA Basel to PAD Paris and London.
Recently, Schneider’s reach expanded beyond the art world when videos of her process, specifically, cutting open her textile sculptures to reveal hidden layers, went viral. This unexpected digital success introduced her work to a new audience, reinforcing the intersection of craftsmanship and social media in today’s art landscape.
Detail: Joana Schneider, Paradise Bird, 120 x 90 x 8 cm.
A Journey Into the Otherworldly
Schneider’s upcoming exhibition at the Groninger Museum, Otherworldly, marks a significant moment in her career. Running from April 12 to August 31, 2025, the show explores transformation, both in nature and human identity, through textile-based sculptures that blur the line between reality and fantasy.
Joana Schneider, Artworks for Otherworldly, 2025.
Schneider’s work often examines themes of metamorphosis, beauty ideals, and the human desire for reinvention. She masterfully blends traditional textile techniques with hand-dyed materials and industrial remnants, creating immersive installations that challenge perceptions of materiality and meaning.
A highlight of the exhibition is Forever Young, a tapestry Schneider crafted from recycled fishing ropes and PET yarn. The work features a caricatured girl with exaggerated features, pink hair, and a voluminous three-dimensional dress. A direct nod to Polly Pocket, the piece examines the generational impact of beauty culture, the tension between digital and physical identities, and society’s relentless obsession with youth. Forever Young, a wry reflection on plastic surgery culture, will be shown publicly at the museum for the first time.
Joana Schneider, Forever Young.
As Joana Schneider takes centre stage at the Groninger Museum, one thing is clear: her artistry is not just about what we see, but about how we see the world around us.
Everyone interested in Joana Schneider's work is welcome to visit the physical space of Rademakers Gallery or contact us here for more information.
Book an exclusive private tour of the exhibition here
Article by Martyna Szpilka
