Anja Van Herle

Anja Van Herle’s large-scale figurative paintings typically feature conventionally attractive, idealized faces donned in striking eyewear. Born in Belgium, Van Herle moved to Los Angeles in her thirties; her work combines a European sense of high fashion with an American sense of wonder. Peek a Boo (2020) recreates a classically glamorous image of Audrey Hepburn—a recurring subject in her work—wearing a pair of dazzling, crystal-encrusted glasses. Eyewear serves as more than just an accessory in her work, it is an extension of personality which allows her to define her subjects through an equally bold use of color. The dramatic interplay of shadow and light in works like Faux Fur for Her (2020) allows Van Herle’s work to maintain an enigmatic aura and invites the viewer to attach their own emotional meaning to the image. Van Herle works in acrylic on panel, frequently adorning her compositions with Swarovski crystals.