Chris Aerfeldt

ABOUT THE WORK
I'm a painter who loves art history but also has a secret attraction to 'bad taste' and whatever's unfashionable. It's my way of rebelling against being told exactly what to do and how to do it.

Growing up in Australia as the daughter of Estonian immigrants, I felt invisible. My parents were desperate to assimilate, so I learned to blend in, be polite and agreeable. But I hated all the rules and also hated dolls. I was both fascinated and repelled by my grandma's framed needlepoint pictures imitating famous paintings. The same applied to the ornaments my mother collected.

Today I revisit these memories and sensations, many of which have persisted into adulthood. Feelings remain of wanting to be seen versus hiding away; craving to escape the mould but being reduced to a pattern; and the battle to escape standardisation.

The overriding theme in my art is the heroine’s journey and a quest for freedom.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Chris Aerfeldt is an Australian artist of Estonian heritage now based in Europe.

Born in Adelaide, Aerfeldt completed a Bachelor of Education in Art Teaching. She then spent over a decade honing her colour and design skills, creating award-wining wearable art as one-off evening gowns and and knitwe...

Education
2007 MA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art & Design, London


Collections
Charles Saatchi, London
David Roberts, London
University of the Arts London
Art Gallery of South Australia
Artbank, Australia
F H Faulding, Australia

Commissions
2007 University of the Arts London, permanent collection

Solo exhibitions

2018 The Heroine's Journey, Muxart Espai d'Art Contemporary, Martorell, Spain
2017 Art En Boîte, Béziers, France
2016 Castangalerie, Perpignan, France
2012 Melbourne Art Fair, Helen Gory Galerie
2009 Silver threads and golden needles (cannot mend this heart of mine), Wyer Gallery, London
2006 Flying Visitation, Helen Gory Galerie, Melbourne, Australia
2004 heavn & hell, Helen Gory Galerie, Melbourne, Australia
1999 A Very Modern Girl, Art Images, Adelaide, South Australia