e-mail freya@freyaprowe.com
phone 323 350 1042
bio
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bio
bio
Born in the small college-town of Northfield, Minnesota in 1971, Freya was raised by bilingual parents. Her father is a professor or European history at Carleton College in Northfield. Her mother served for many years on Northfield's city council and taught swimming at Carleton. Freya's school years were divided between schools in Germany and in Northfield. Frequent sabbaticals to Germany led to a love of the country's rich folklore.
Freya's free hours as a child were spent drawing, painting and listening to German fairy tales read aloud. This, along with the typically vivid imagination of a child, has influenced not only her current painting style, but her subject matter as well. The characters she brings to life are, at times, close to human and other times, unabashedly comical or horrific idiosyncrasies akin to their ancestors of German Folklore. Described by some as lyrical and dark, Freya describes her images as taking shape when she considers the subtle tension and revulsion found in human interactions.
She attended Pitzer College in Claremont, CA, graduating in 1994 with a degree in Fine Arts. During her time at Pitzer, Freya spent a semester studying textile design in Java, Indonesia. Following her time in Java, she spent three months studying commercial textile near Zurich, Switzerland. Her study of textile design led to a show of works on silk screens in 1993 entitled On Time / No Time.
Her work continues to be influenced by an attention to pattern-making and composition. She has shown extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area and much of her past work currently resides in private collections throughout the United States.
Freya Prowe lives in Oakland, California with her daughter Anja.
education & international experience
1996 Completed course in children's book illustration, UC Berkeley, CA
1995 Six week tour through mainland China
1994 BA from Pitzer College in Claremont, CA
1993 Intensive semester of language/culture study program in Java, Indonesia.
1993 Textile design internship with acclaimed designer in Daettwil Switzerland
1989 Extended Eurail travel throughout Europe
1975-1979 Periodic residence and schooling in Germany and US
fluent: English, German
conversant: French, Indonesian
1999-2000 Floral Designer,Jacob Maarse Florists, Pasadena, CA
1999 Floral Designer, Silver Birches Florists, Pasadena, CA
1997- 1999 Floral Designer, Blumengarten, San Francisco, CA
1995-1997 Floral Designer, Podesta Baldocchi, San Francisco, CA
1994-1995 Floral Designer, Lydia's Flowers, San Francisco, CA
1992 Non-profit arts organization intern for The Light-Bringer Project, Pasadena, CA
1993-94 Research and Awards Committee Grant from Pitzer College, CA
1994 Without a Box Award for Artists from Claremont Colleges, CA
1998-present: Ongoing representation by HANG GALLERY in San Francisco.
2002 Molt, with fellow painter Launa Bacon in Los Angeles at KUNSTLERSCHAFT, Los Angeles, CA
2001 Uberfrau, with fellow painter Launa Bacon in Los Angeles at KUNSTLERSCHAFT, Los Angeles, CA
1997 & 1998-99 Solo shows at BLUMENGARTEN, a floral and art gallery, San Francisco
1997 The Alphabet Series and Other Works at BORDERS BOOKS & MUSIC on Union Square, San Francisco
1996 Refiguring the Figure, group show at ARTWORKS GALLERY, San Francisco
1996 The Art of the Word, group show at TROJANOWSKA GALLERY, San Francisco
1995 New Fairy-Tale Inspired Works in the children's literature department of BORDERS BOOKS & MUSIC on Union Square, San Francisco
1994 Emerging Artists, group show at ARTWORKS GALLERY, San Francisco
1994 On Time/No Time: The Pace of Place, solo senior show at MCCONNELL ATRIUM, PITZER COLLEGE, Claremont, CA
1994 Senior Group Exhibit, LANG GALLERY, SCRIPPS COLLEGE, Claremont, CA
1993 The Succulents, solo show at SALATHE GALLERY, PITZER COLLEGE, Claremont, CA
1993 The Vulgarians, two person show at MOTLEY TO THE VIEW, SCRIPPS COLLEGE, Claremont, CA
1992 Art on Alice in Wonderland, group show at SCRIPPS HUMANITIES GALLERY, SCRIPPS COLLEGE, Claremont, CA
1991 Produce,Reproduce/Create, Recreate, two person show at SPAM GALLERY, POMONA COLLEGE, Claremont, CA
1991 Textile Structures, group show at LANG GALLERY, SCRIPPS COLLEGE, Claremont, CA