“There is Beauty in the Struggle”
Anja Van Herle interview
Interview & Article by Erika Lee
I recently ran across a quote, “There is beauty in the struggle,” which
was oddly referenced days later, during an interview with the talented
and vibrant artist, Anja Van Herle. The world has a way of aligning
moments and confirming life lessons. This interview seemed to be a
confirmation of my own struggles and maybe Anja’s openness, will
allow another artist to know they are not alone in their journey!
just how far she has come.
The interview with Anja was refreshing and fun as she shared her art,
her hardships and her joys with such candor and openness. The interview was empty of posturing, pandering, and fluff. This interview was
full of authenticity and openness, which only solidified my curiosity
and wonder of her as both an artist and human!
Do you wait to be inspired to work: “No! I paint every day, whether
I am in the mood or not.” She said she used to be very disciplined
about her start time and what time she needed to be in the studio but
now she is a bit more flexible how she works. While she usually goes
into the studio every day, she now works on designs or chat’s with the
models and takes new photos that she will use as inspiration on later
days. She is consistently busy with commissions or creating for the
gallery. If she doesn’t have items that she has to get done, then she
just creates for herself. Painting for herself is doing what she wants to
do, but within the framework of what will work for a gallery.
When were you born: 1969
Location of Birth: Belgium
Education: Higher Institute for Art Belgium
Starting Over: Anja moved to Los Angeles in 2003
With this move, she found herself rediscovery her art and being
inspired by fashion and entertainment that surrounded her everyday life. By moving to L.A., this became a time of seriousness in her
work. Her earlier works, which were more abstract portrait pieces,
were now becoming “playful figurative paintings that combine a European sense of high fashion with an American sense of wonder.”
What mediums do you work in: Acrylic on wood is what I am
currently working on. I feel that it looks like airbrushing as the grain
of the wood, adds to the overall feel of my work. It is smooth, but the
grain adds to the feeling of my art.
Why do you do what you do: As an 18-year-old girl in Belgium, she
was always a very girly, girl who was fascinated with fashion and
wanted to be a Makeup Artist or a Fashion Designer. Because she
always found herself doodling and drawing, she instead decided to
attain a Fine Arts degree. She believes living in L.A. has a direct correlation to the work she is currently creating, along with her subconscious touching on her father’s very different portraiture work. These
things had a way of, “migrating into her own work.”
As an Artist, how do you deal with vulnerability: Being vulnerable is
a constant struggle and she treats her art as a full-time job. Moving
to Los Angeles, left her feeling nervous and raw as it really put her
in a place of, “starting from ground zero.” This was hard for her but
she was focused and loves what she does, so she just pushed harder.
While it can be difficult, it never really seems like work. She often
found herself in tears, but she got stronger. There can be a lot of
ups and downs, but she does what she want’s to do. Now that she is
recognized for her art, it has become a bit easier. She tries to focus on
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What do you recommend to other struggling artist: “Be yourself,
work hard! It has a way of coming together. Make sure you really
LOVE what you’re doing and continue to move towards your goals.
Don’t listen too much to other people and go with what you feel.”
How has your practice changed over time: She has focused on
painting faces for a long time, but previously they were much more
abstract. When she was in her 20s, she was really struggling to find
her style. Finally, her style was birthed with her move to Los Angeles.
The move to L.A. was coupled with a new support system of believers,
her husband, and her father-in-law. They both believed in her work
and gave her the financial freedom to work on her art and develop her
style. She worked every day for years, just playing and discovering
and voila’, one day her own style evolved. She really has to be thankful for the support that she has been given.
Are you inspired by other artists: “Yes, Takashi Murakami”. If you
don’t know who that is, please take the time to google the uber talented Japanese pop-art illustrator.
What jobs have you done other than being an artist: Anja worked in
clothing stores in Belgium called Wolford, and also for Gant. While
typically drawn into the fashion industry, she also had a stint working
in a restaurant owned by her parents. It was there, that she discovered
how incredibly hard the restaurant industry was and the touch point
of her parents ingraining a strong work ethic.
What memorable responses have you had to your work: “I had a couple of young clients who didn’t have money but loved my art so much
that they saved for years.” When this couple finally purchased a piece
of her art, she was so thankful and moved, knowing that purchasing
her work was truly an investment for them.
What food, drink, song inspires you: Anja cannot paint without
music. She loves a variety of music but she often finds herself listening to Eddy Vedder or Pearl Jam. She asked me if I knew of the
late Hawaiian artist, “Izzy,” whose music also inspires her work or
the soundtrack for “Interstellar”. I am about to go on an Interstellar
binge, so I can try and get her working vibe. Every now and then, she
may take a music break to find clarity, but once the light bulb turns
on, she brings the music back. Aside from music, she takes inspiration from everyday living and just moving through life.
How does your work day end: Imagine a long day of painting, ending
in the sweetness of Prosecco which is delivered to her by her supportive husband, who is an artist in his own vein.
Is the artistic life lonely: “Sometimes it can be very lonely and it may
have to do with the fact that I moved from Belgium and I miss my
friends from back home. Also, because of the type of work I do, I
often have to skip a lot of activities due to my focus.” She finds that
most friends are understanding of her work, but others struggle with
her focus on her art.
What do you dislike about the art world: She absolutely loves what
she is doing; yet the pressure of making money, can be extreme. The
pressure to grow, or wondering when the next commissioned job will
come in, can make things stressed. Anja also struggles (as we all do)
when people taking advantage or aren’t fair. She has had businesses
sell her work and not pay. She struggles with counterfeit copies and
feels at risk by these things, as her talent is being taken advantage of.
What research do you do to prep for a new piece: When Anja started,
she would find her inspiration from a pose in a magazine. Now she
works with real world women and she shoots photos of them and has
a collection to pull from. She tends to meet her models out and about
while living life. She looks for girls who have a face that is interesting
to her and she is currently working regularly with (3) different L.A.
girls. Just think, the girl in the painting could be standing next to you
at the checkout.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given: The best advice was
from her parents. Her parents taught her to work very hard. They
always said, “work hard in life,” and this translated into her art.
What artist has your work sat alongside or is currently sharing wall
space with: Anja’s work currently hangs in galleries alongside Jeff
Koons, Andy Warhol, Banksy & Basquiat. Additionally, she’s shown
with Shepard Fairey, Retna, Damien Hirst, Chuck Close and Victoria’s
Secret fashion photographer Russel James.
Do you have any shows coming up: I have a current show at the Joanne Artman Gallery in Laguna Beach and I have an upcoming show
that will be announced this summer.
Name three artists you’d like to be compared to:
- Italian artist Fornasetti
- Andy Warhol
- Mel Ramos
Should art be funded:
I’m not against it, but I think especially for an artist, it’s good to deal
with a bit of struggle. There tend to be beauty in the struggle, which
comes to life in he artist work.
Website: http://www.anjav.com
Instagram: @anjavanherle
Name something you love, and why: “I love to collect shells and I
have to collect them at the beach. I think it comes from the awe of
realizing I leave near the ocean.” She has some shells in her studio,
which are housed in a glass box. Other pleasures include shopping
the flea markets and finding unique bits. Her favorite flea market is
Rose Bowl Flea Market, Long Beach, and the Fairfax Market, which
just allows her to meander and browse.
What is your dream project: She is currently working on getting her
work licensed. She wants’ to have it licensed for t-shirts and looks to
brand her work in a savvy and classy way. She is impressed by Fornasettis work and what he was able to do branding and licensing.
What is a dream location to see your work: “I would love to see my
work in a Museum such as the Louvre. Also, collaboration with MAC
makeup would be a great licensing and branding adventure.
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