DESIRE MAKES EVERYTHING BLOSSOM
Oil on Fabric with Sewn Fabric Letters
52" x 37" & 74" x 2.75"
2023
Isabelle Klauder: Reimagining Femininity in Fabric and Florals
Isabelle Klauder, a contemporary artist based in Hendersonville, North Carolina, is redefining the boundaries of figurative painting through her lush, large-scale oil works on patterned fabrics. Born in Burlington, Vermont in 1987, Klauder’s journey has taken her from Hillsborough Community College in Tampa to the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where she earned her BFA in Figure Painting & Studio Art. Today, Klauder’s canvases are as much about the tactile history of textiles as they are about the painted image.
Klauder’s signature style fuses robust, curvy female figures with intricate floral and botanical motifs, all set against the backdrop of patterned fabrics. These fabrics, sometimes hand-stitched or embroidered, serve not just as a surface but as an integral part of the narrative—highlighting the often overlooked role of textiles in women’s creative and economic histories. Her current collection, “Fabricating Thresholds,” explores themes of domesticity, escapism, and the garden-as-refuge, inviting viewers to consider the ways in which nature, femininity, and personal growth intertwine.
Her work draws inspiration from artists like Mary Cassatt and Eric Fischl, as well as the Pattern & Decoration movement, challenging traditional representations of the female form and sexuality. The figures in her paintings often seem to exist both above and within the textile patterns, creating a layered visual space that blurs the boundaries between subject and environment. Klauder’s use of idioms and sewn words adds a narrative element, prompting reflection on the passage of time and the stages of life.
Klauder’s paintings are not limited to the human form; animals—especially dogs and birds—sometimes emerge from the floral tapestry, further blurring the line between figure and ground. Works like “it is a foolish sheep that makes the wolf its confessor” showcase her delicate yet powerful approach, with bold tones and integrated floral patterns that seem to merge with the subject’s very skin.
As an active member of the Art League of Hendersonville and a frequent exhibitor across the United States, Klauder’s art is both personal and universal, offering a fresh, thought-provoking perspective on femininity, nature, and the enduring power of representational painting in contemporary society.
