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
2024 Wearable Art: Concept Development Workshop, Gatakers Artspace, Maryborough
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
2024 Wearable Waste pop up exhibition, Gatakers Artspace, Maryborough, with 1 week residency
2024 DistoMorph solo exhibition, Warwick Art Gallery
2024 Xanthoparmelia - finalist in Paper On Skin, Tasmania
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