STÉPHANIE BAECHLER
Stéphanie Baechler (*1983, Meyrez, Switzerland)
Currently lives and works in Amsterdam.
Stéphanie Baechler's artistic journey unfolds at the intersection of textile and ceramics, marked by a profoundly intuitive and process-driven approach to materiality. Deeply interested by the interplay between craft and technology, she delves into the intricate and often nuanced relationship between handmade and machine-made outcomes. Baechler cultivated her textile skills at HSLU Lucerne University of Applied Arts in Switzerland and attained a Fashion Masters's degree from ArtEZ Arnhem in the Netherlands. Her professional background includes pivotal roles as a Textile Developer/Design Assistant for Hussein Chalayan in London and the head of print design for the esteemed Swiss textile company Jakob Schlaepfer. Over the past decade, her artistic focus has shifted toward sculpture and installation.
In her artistic practice, Baechler delves into fashion's formal and structural vocabulary, exploring its production methodologies and intricate relationship with the body, identity, and society. Her artistic dialogue arises from a profound engagement and hands-on immersion in craft and production techniques, often collaborating with highly specialised artisans and manufacturers. Through meticulous observation and intervention in production processes, she unveils and accentuates hidden, nuanced details. In this manner, she addresses themes of care, fragility, and sensory experiences that have gradually receded through today's streamlined technological processes.
Stéphanie Baechler is awarded several times with the Federal Swiss Design Award. Her works are in public and private collections, such as HEAD-Genève, Museum für Gestaltung Zurich and MAHF Fribourg.