Astrid Polman is a visual artist, she graduated in 1999 at the Art Academy AKI Enschede in The Netherlands. From 2000 on Astrid exhibits regularly.

Nestbouwers, (Nest Builders) 2010, pencil & embroidery, by Astrid Polman

Her work consists mainly of drawings which she embroiders. Recurring themes in her work are fertility, growth (in the broad sense) and cycles of life.

Detail from Nestbouwers

Furthermore, Astrid makes beautiful objects made ​​of felt. The use of color in her work is remarkably sober. Astrid finds that too much color, would distract too much.

Wens of Geboorte Hart (Desire or Birth Heart) by Astrid Polman

On Astrid’s site, I saw that a Textile Biennial is organized in Museum Rijswijk in Rijswijk, The Netherlands

From June 7 to September 11, 2011 twenty (textiles) artists from home and abroad will show their work.

This Biennial shows that knitting, embroidery and crocheting do not necessarily have to be traditional and passé. The work of the artists closely follows current developments in the arts, making critical but also humorous statements about politics, identity, origin and sexuality.

Astrid Polman takes part in this Biennale and also the American artist Diem Chau shows her lovely work. If you click here you’ll see what I wrote before on my blog about the work of Diem Chau.

On Sunday, September 11, the last day of the Textile Biennial, from 13 to 17 hours a major textile market is held on the forecourt of the museum and the Old Church, opposite the museum. Please look at the site of Museum Rijswijk for more information.

Born in ‘Saigon’ Diem Chau is a Vietnam native, but she and her family came to America as refugees in 1986. She graduated at Cornish College of the Arts and since then has won many awards. Diem Chau exhibited her extraordinary work in galleries in New York, Miami, Seattle and Los Angeles.

At the moment she has a solo show at the Packer Gallery in Chicago. For all of you who don’t live in Chicago you can see all of the new work HERE.
Diem Chau also has an interesting blog

Porcelain plate by Diem Chau

Bowl by Diem Chau