MUNTHE ART MONDAY: ANNE MEI POPPE
Web: www.annemeipoppe.com
Instagram: @artbyannemeipoppe
Please introduce yourself and tell us about what you do.
My name is Anne Mei Poppe and I’m an Amsterdam-based artist. Since I was very little I have always loved to draw, paint, and create. I’m happy that today – after quite a long detour – I can say that it became my job.
The main theme of my work is connection; the way our lives are connected with each other and everything that surrounds us. I prefer working on large canvases. I love color and depicting the female body from a feminine perspective.
Could you explain more about how being a woman has affected your career?
There has been quite a lot of females who have supported me along the way, and I honestly feel a real sisterhood among female creators.
Having said that, the sad fact is that women are highly underrated in the arts, as in many other industries. At the same time, there is a huge rise in the visibility of female artists and galleries focusing on female creators. In general, I think women need to work harder to be taken seriously, but I do see that this is slowly - but finally - changing.
Can you name some other female (artist) that inspires you and explain why they do so?
I admire the work of Frida Kahlo for the way she expresses emotion as poetry in her work, Yayoi Kusama for her sculptures and installations, Norah Nielson Gray for the way she portrays her children as well as her romantic use of color, and Paula Modersohn Becker for her expressionistic work – as well as many others.
By far I feel inspired by the women around me; my mom, daughter and friends and the relationships I have with them. Connection has always been the main theme of my work, and that is mainly driven by the relationships with the people around me.
What has been the most challenging aspect of being a female artist?
In general, I think it’s harder for female artists to be taken seriously and for their work to be priced fairly. My main challenge has probably been to let go of the expectations of others and to trust my own gut and just do whatever I want. To just feel free of all expectations.
What would you like people to notice in your artwork?
I would like people to feel connected. To let the viewer know that we are all connected in some way. I hope my paintings will remind people of a certain feeling or time in their life that they’d like to hold on to.
Anne Mei is wearing our ACTIVE pants and AVENDER shirt in the color RUST.
