Sydney artist Kirsten Fredericks takes the phallic symbol and, armed with crochet hooks, wool, and her knowledge of a traditional “feminine” craft, turns it on its head. The result is a playful, culturally charged homage to the male and female reproductive organ.
Fusing kitsch, nostalgia, craft and playful perversity. Kirsten's woolly delights seemingly come straight out of a naughty nanny’s craft box. Her phallic creations and crocheted reinterpretations of male and female genitalia amuse and titillate, even shock with their vibrant colours, outlandish shapes and breathtaking array of sizes.
Since starting her first residency with Brand X her connection with the Sydney art community deepened leading to the first of many curated shows – Peephole and two front windows of The Bearded Tit in Redfern.
Since ‘Growers and Showers’ at Michael Reid in February 2015 there have been numerous solo shows in Australia, Budapest and California, three group shows with Maunsell Wickes gallery, an Artist in Residence with brand X, curator with Australian Design Centre and crochet teacher and curator with Waverley Council.
On a daily basis Kirsten is constantly creating new works with the craft of crocheting to exploring contemporary sexual politics and identity.