Maria Blaisse (1944) studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy Amsterdam and graduated in 1968. Two years later she was a participant in Jack Lenor Larsen’s design studio in New York. After this, she did research on traditions of textile techniques and natural dyeing of fibres in South America for a good three years. From 1974 on, Blaisse taught textile design at the Rietveld Academy for 17 years. During this time, she developed herself as a versatile designer and international guest lecturer. Her work touches different aspects of art, fashion, architecture, performance, video and photography, from material to form and movement.
Her projects can be understood as sculptures or costumes. In many cases, it is difficult to determine which is in control: the body or the form. Perhaps more clearly than any other artist, Blaisse resides firmly between the disciplines of art, design, textiles, and fashion. Her work is an investigation of form and material. The results have found homes in the theater, on the fashion catwalk, and in art galleries. In 2014, Blaisse was honoured with a seven-month retrospective view of her work at the Rijksmuseum Twenthe in the Netherlands. In this retrospective, her most important accomplishments from the past 40 years were exhibited.
