About | Studiosvenja

For the last decade, my practice has consisted largely of making work for the International design competition and performance known as the World of WearableArt (WOW) in New Zealand, with 6 awards received from 13 entries accepted over 11 years. Other exhibitions and events include Wearable Art Mandurah, Western Australia, paperonskin, Tasmania, Wearable Expressions, California and the inaugural Naracoorte Art Prize, South Australia.

As the daughter of a botanist, I have long had a strong connection with, and appreciation of the natural environment, and am passionate about sharing the way I see it and how it makes me feel. It has always been the stimulus for my work – in 2009 and 2011 I exhibited “Morphology I and II - exploring the fascinating surfaces and forms of fungus and lichen through contemporary textile practices”, featuring felting, dyeing, shibori and free-motion embroidery.

Almost every year I participate in textile related workshops to continue to grow and extend my skills, alongside the many self-taught/researched methods I discover throughout the year. In 2017 I graduated from TAFE with my Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Technology. As well as studying traditional textile techniques, I embrace modern developments, such as UV reactive sewing thread and the 3D printing pen. I am a regular contributor to the well-respected Australian publication TEXTILE Fibre Forum, writing about my work for my pages Situation Svenja, as well as other articles.

My textile-based art practice is in the process of transitioning from wearable art to wall and sculptural works. My five-week residency on King Island (December 2019) was a pivotal experience for this, providing me with the time and stimulation to shift my focus from sculptural works based on the human body, to those that stand alone and fit comfortably in a gallery environment. My strong alliance to biological themes continues to drive my work.

Formal Education

2014-2017 Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Technology, TAFE Brisbane

2016 TAE Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Inspire Education

2012 Advanced Pattern Making MSIT, non-assessable 20 weeks, Chris Twine

2010 Garment Construction MSIT Carol Costa

2008 Certificate II in Millinery MSIT Robyn Smallhorn

2003 Certificate III in Business Administration Employment North

2000-2002 BA Art History - partial completion University of Queensland GPA 5.667

1999 Certificate III in Arts, Drawing Gateway Institute of TAFE

1997 Selected modules from Certificate II in Fashion Studies MSIT

1994-1996 BA Drama, Stage Management Queensland University of Technology GPA 5.55

Workshop Participation

2023 So many hats, only one head – 5 days, Tutor: Dawn Edwards
2023 Metal Cloth to the Max – 5 days, Tutor: Alysn Midegelow-Marsden

2022 Fabulous Fibre Reactives – 5 days, Tutor: Julie Ryder

2019 Sculptural Techniques with Needled Wool – 5 days, Tutor: Kristy Kun

2017 An introduction to coloured anodised aluminium and titanium jewellery 5 days, Tutor: Meghan O'Rourke

2016 Wild Fibre for Felted Fashion - 2 days, Tutor: Pam Hovel

2015 Introduction to Tambour Beading - 2 days, Tutor: Karen Torrisi

2015 Eco-dyeing - 2 days, Tutor: Anne Leon

2014 3D Marvels - 5 days, Tutor: Tatiana Sheverda

2013 Freedom Construction – 2 days, Tutor: Pam de Groot

2013 Sculptural felting; experiment and discovery – 5 days, Tutor: Marjolein Dallinga

2012 Beyond the Surface Fabric Manipulation - 2 days, Tutor: Vilte Kazlauskaite

2012 Designer Felted Jackets - 4 days, Tutor: Phylis Hoffman

2011 A Personal Approach to Felt Making, Hand Stitching and Colour – Design Focus Programme - 5 days, Tutor: Helen O’Hare

2010 PMC jewellery - 2 days, Tutor: Melanie Dilday

2010 Framing the Fabric – 2 days, Tutor: Helen McRitchie

2008 Shibori and Indigo dyeing - 1 day, Tutor: Margaret Barnett

2007 Nuno Felt Wrap – 1 day, Tutor: Wendy Bailye

2006 Paint, Create, Stitch – Free Hand Embroidery – 10 days, Tutor: Carol Wilkes

2006 Breaking the Constraints with Corsetry – 2 days, Tutor: Kirry Toose

2004 Free Machine Embroidery – 5 days, Tutor: Carol Wilkes

2002 Freehand Machine Embroidery – 10 days, Tutor: Ken Smith

2002 Felting for Beginners – 1 day Tutor: Phillipa Rooke

World of WearableArt®Entries

2019 Odette & Odile Mythology Section Finalist

2018 Coccinelle Under the Microscope Section Finalist, Third Place

2017 Freyja American Express Open Section Finalist

2017 Cordycephila Weta Workshop Costume & Film Section : Theme Science Fiction Finalist, Second Place

2016 Trophy Bizarre Bra Section Finalist Retained for display.

2015 Return to Earth 4545 Weta Workshop Costume & Film Section : Theme Other Worlds Finalist. Retained for display.

2014 Fènghuáng Weta Workshop Costume & Film Section : Theme Kingdoms of the East Finalist. Winner of International Award Australia/ South Pacific - purchased for World of WearableArts Museum Collection.

2014 Isolda Avant Garde Section Finalist

2013 Hakaturi Air New Zealand South Pacific Section Second Place and Winner of International Award Australia/ South Pacific - purchased for World of WearableArt Museum Collection.

2012 Euphony Iridaceae Creative Excellence Section Finalist :Theme Visual Symphony. Retained for 12 months, displayed April 2012 at Intercontinental Hotel, Wellington NZ and during 2012 show season.

2011 Fimbria Figura Creative Excellence Theme Under the Microscop Section Finalist. Retained for 12 months, displayed April 2012 at Intercontinental Hotel, Wellington NZ and during 2012 show season.

2010 BioLumina Geni Creative Excellence Section :Theme Art of Light Finalist. International Runner Up, Purchased by Montana World of WearableArt Awards Trust for Collection

2008 Beyond Chrysalis Avant Garde Section Finalist

Teaching

2023 Wearable Art: Concept Development Workshop, Pinnacles Art Gallery, Townsville

2016 Precious Fragment Capelet 1 day workshop for 'Wild Women' group

2015 Wearable Art presentation on behalf of Common Threads

2014 Precious Fragment Wrap 2 day workshop Hervey Bay - Spinners and Weavers

2013 Felting and Dyeing 2 day workshop dyeing, Buderim Craft Cottage

Exhibitions/Events

2023 Algalrhythms solo exhibition, Dogwood Crossing Gallery November 18 – January 27, 2024
2023 Wearable Art Creatives guest artist, Townsville. Four Wearable Art works in performance at POSE festival, and in exhibition at Pinnacles Art Gallery, September 1- October 22
2023 Warwick Wearable Art Awards guest exhibiting artist and judge, July 20-21
2023 Artist Residency, Police Point, Mornington Peninsula, 2 weeks
2023 Algalrhythms solo exhibition, Lockyer Valley Regional Art Gallery February 10 – March 26
2022 Paracosm – a detailed imaginary world Exhibition, TAFE QLD (Mt Gravatt Campus) Aug 19 – Sept 9
2022 Inaugural Artist in Residence, TAFE QLD Design Atelier
2022 Algalrhythms solo exhibition, Gympie Regional Art Gallery March 17 – April 14
2022 Algalrhythms solo exhibition, Warwick Regional Art Gallery January 6 – February 12
2021 Algalrhythms solo exhibition, King Island Cultural Centre October 15 – November 15
2020 Cosmic Leafy Sea Dragon, ‘paperonskin’, Burnie, Tasmania

2019 Artist Residency, King Island Cultural Centre, 5 weeks

2019 Dame Detritus, Wearable Art Mandurah (WAM)

2019 Layers in Time, Naracoorte Art Prize Finalist

2018/2019 Fiber Art Now Volume 8 Issue 2 Winter 2018/2019. Freyja featured in the Excellence in Fibers IV Print Exhibition - a juried exhibition.

2018 Short-listed for Overall Winner, BCC Artforce Awards - Traffic Signal Box painting

2018 Beyond Chrysalis - Emergence, World of WearableArt® - unselected

2018 Trumptopussy, World of WearableArt® - unselected

2018 Lichen Morphology – Winner First Prize, ‘paper on skin’, Burnie, Tasmania.

2017 Anthozoa - Winner First Time Entrant, Wearable Art Mandurah (WAM)

2017 Kelp (moulded leather neckpiece) Wearable Expressions, juried wearable art exhibition, Palos Verdes Art Centre, California.

2016 Guest Judge at Scattered Arts 'Transformation' exhibition

2016 TAFE Study tour, Bunka Fashion College, Tokyo, Japan

2016 Guest Judge at Common Threads Wearable Art Showcase, Mandurah, WA

2015 Guest Judge at Calico on the Catwalk, Boonah

2014 Guest Artist at the Brisbane Craft & Quilt Fair, Expertise Events - Perth, Launceston, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide

2014 TAFE Study Tour, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York

2012 BioLumina Featured in Air New Zealand tourism campaign including billboards and merchandise, and 1 of 100 World of WearableArt® Collection garments performing at the 40th Hong Kong Arts Festival

2012 Mirror Mirror ATASDA Exhibition Fragment The Palm House, Sydney Botanic Gardens

2012 Mirror Mirror Finalist in the 2012 Art U Wear The Fairest of Them All

2011 Morphology II Exhibition with Carol Wilkes Gallery 159

2011 Siren of the Sea Finalist and People’s Choice Award in the 2011 Art U Wear Circus Berserkus competition, Expertise Events/ Bernina Australia

2009 Beyond Chrysalis Acquisitive Award, Fashion Fantasia, Tasmania

2009 ‘To wear or not to wear’ exhibition – featured artist Scattered Arts

2009 Morphology exhibition with Carol Wilkes Gallery 159

2009 Forest Floor - Displayed at Art to Wear, Perth Craft Show

2009 ATASDA Touring exhibition Exotica

2009 Art to Wear Sydney Quilt & Craft Show

2008 Fantasy Dreaming – TAFE staff & student exhibition, Gallery 159

2008 ATASDA Exhibition Out of the Blue The Palm House, Sydney Botanic Gardens

2007 Forest Floor, Fashion Fantasia, Tasmania ‘Gondwana’ Section Winner &‘First Time Entrant’ Award

2007 Catwalk Botanique - showcase of wearable art Mt Coot-Tha Gardens

2007 Flutterby - Boonah Shire 2007 SPAR Arts Festival Calico on the Catwalk wearable art competition ‘Fantasy Category’ – 1st Prize

2007 ATASDA Exhibition From the Earth The Palm House, Sydney Botanic Gardens

Publications

2020- TEXTILE Fibre Forum Magazine Regular contributor

2019 TEXTILE Fibre Forum Magazine, Issue 133 - Front Cover and 6 page feature article

2018 4 page Artist Profile Down Under Textiles Issue 33

2018 World of WearableArt 2017 coverage TEXTILE Fibre Forum Magazine Issue 129

2017 TEXTILE Fibre Forum Magazine, Issue 128 - Front Cover

2017 OzArts Issue 10 article ‘The Wonders of Wearable Art’, Janet de Boer

2017 3 page Artist Profile Felt Magazine Issue 17

2016 World of WearableArt 2015 coverage TEXTILE Fibre Forum Magazine, Issue 121

2015 U on Sunday feature article, by Cat Lindsay

2014 June Issue TEXTILE Fibre Forum Magazine Issue 114

2013 WearableArt 300 pages. Publisher: Craig Potton Publishing

2013 World of WearableArt 2012 coverage TEXTILE Fibre Forum Magazine Issue 1, No 109

2012 Dominion Post Magazine article Bill O’Byrne ‘From little mushrooms do beautiful garments bloom’

2011 4-page Artist profile Embellish magazine

2011 Off the Wall - The World of WearableArt 184 pages. Publisher: Craig Potton Publishing; 3rd Revised edition

2010 ‘Judged as Outstanding in Fibre Design for Australia and New Zealand in 2010 by a panel of four judges brought together by Dragon Design and TAFTA (The Australian Forum for Textile Arts Ltd). The judges were Valerie Kirk, Annie Trevillian and Tony Dyer from Australia and Christine Keller from New Zealand."