Blurring boundaries

Formlessness is the shape of our time. As some traditions fade, a new generation of creatives is redefining what it means to live and work outside conventional frameworks. Let’s take a closer look at several remarkable women reshaping the narrative.

Andrea Zittel

If you’re looking to step outside the expected and rethink the rules that govern daily life, you need to explore the work of American artist Andrea Zittel. Designing homes, furniture, clothing, and even vehicles, she blurs the line between everyday living and conceptual art.

Born in Escondido, California in 1965, Andrea studied at San Diego State University and the Rhode Island School of Design, she started creating works inspired by everyday life. Her art took shape through personal necessity – her first experimental structure was created to simplify life in her tiny Brooklyn apartment.

Zittel’s accessibility and impact on the global art scene speak to her unique ability to transcend cultural boundaries. Her work engages with diverse audiences, sparking dialogue around the universal human experience and the meaning of the environments we shape for ourselves.

Her installations and sculptures have been featured in major international art events, including the Venice Biennale and Documenta. Today, Andrea Zittel’s pieces are part of renowned permanent collections, such as the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Tate Modern in London, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). 

Shantell Martin 

Internationally acclaimed artist Shantell Martin has crafted a one-of-a-kind visual language through her signature line drawings. This foundation was laid back in her school days, where spelling didn’t come easily and weekly tests were a challenge. Yet, she loved words – they helped her express her feelings and made her feel more at ease.

After being diagnosed with dyslexia, Shantell asked herself: “What if I take these words and turn them into a font that’s playful, accessible, and open?” She found inspiration in the comic style of Undertale, appreciating its fun and approachable storytelling.

Dubbed the “artist who draws on everything,” Shantell is known for her stick-figure illustrations and spontaneous black-and-white linework.

Born and raised in London, Shantell began her career in Japan before settling in New York. Reflecting on her creative journey in one of the interviews, she describes it through the lens of place:

“London was escape. I drew to disconnect from what was happening around me – I wasn’t a very happy teenager, and drawing helped me focus.

Tokyo was self-discovery. It’s where I realized I wanted to draw and create for the rest of my life. I was immersed in a world of music and visuals. My pen-and-paper work became incredibly detailed and small-scale, while my new digital creations grew bold, colorful, and interactive.

Chiharu Shiota

the Japanese city of Osaka, artist Chiharu Shiota now lives and works in Berlin.

Her parents were entrepreneurs who ran a wooden crate factory for fish in a port town – far removed from the world of art. They had envisioned a different path for their daughter: to become a wife and mother, eventually taking over the family business. But for Shiota, the clatter of machines and monotony of production felt like madness. She refused to become part of that mechanical world.

Everything changed after visiting an exhibition of Van Gogh’s work – it was there she realized her true path lay in art. After studying painting at Kyoto University, she moved to Berlin to further pursue her vision.

Shiota’s inspiration often stems from deeply personal experiences and emotions as she explores themes of life, death, memory, and human connection. Using everyday objects - shoes, keys, beds, chairs, and dresses - she weaves massive thread installations that envelop the space and the viewer.

In her hands, the thread becomes a material charged with tension and tenderness, mirroring human relationships: fragile yet resilient. Its tactile nature allows Shiota to express emotion with extraordinary depth. Her monumental installations leave viewers with an overwhelming sense of solitude, sometimes even fear.