Annika Thiems
Born in Leer, Germany, 1991
Lives and works in London, United Kingdom
Annika Thiems is a German textile artist whose sculptures and wearable pieces delve into the absurd and uncanny. She transforms rejected and found materials into projection screens for hidden drives and desires, layering surreal functions with psychoanalytic concepts. Raised in East Frisia, Germany, as the fourth generation in a family of upholsterers, Thiems began sewing early—an influence that continues to shape her experimental approach to tailoring and soft construction. Her works and collaborations have been exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate Britain, The Royal Ballet & Opera, and Sadler’s Wells, and featured in The World of Interiors, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Thiems holds degrees in Psychology and Curating, and received the 2019 NEON Curatorial Award. She lives and works in London.
Biography
Annika Thiems (b. 1991, Leer, Germany) is a German textile artist based in London whose sculptures and wearable pieces delve into the absurd and uncanny. She transforms rejected and found materials into projection screens for hidden drives and desires, layering surreal functions with psychoanalytic concepts.
Raised in East Frisia as the fourth generation in a family of upholsterers, Thiems began sewing early, an influence that continues to shape her experimental approach to tailoring and soft construction. She holds a BSc in Psychology (First Class Honours) from the University of East London and an MFA in Curating from Goldsmiths College, University of London.
Her works and collaborations have been exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate Britain, The Royal Ballet & Opera, and Sadler's Wells, and featured in The World of Interiors, The New York Times, and The Guardian. In 2019 she received the NEON Curatorial Award, presented in partnership with the Whitechapel Gallery, London. In 2023 she was artist-in-residence at Villa Lena, Tuscany.
Available Works
Annika Thiems
Water-Repellent Double Case with Hangers, 2026
Oilskin, parachute nylon, leather, cotton, polyester, lavender, wood, metal and thread
89.5 × 115.2 × 5.4 cm
35 ¼ × 45 ⅜ × 2 ⅛ in
Price on request
Annika Thiems
Parachute Table Legs with Maple Seeds, 2026
Parachute nylon, maple seeds, polyester, wood, steel and thread
72.2 × 98.8 × 10 cm
28 ⅜ × 38 ⅞ × 3 ⅞ in
Price on request
Annika Thiems
Water-Repellent Double Frame with 18 Pockets, 2026
Oilskin, polyester, wood, steel and thread
42.4 × 82 × 8.6 cm
16 ¾ × 32 ¼ × 3 ⅜ in
Price on request
Annika Thiems
Parachute Double Case with Hangers, 2026
Parachute nylon, lavender, polyester, plastic buckle, metal, wood and thread
40 × 60 × 4.6 cm
15 ¾ × 23 ⅝ × 1 ¾ in
Price on request
Annika Thiems
Water-Repellent Case with Secured Table Hinges, 2026
Oilskin, polyester, wood, metal and thread
24 × 31 × 6.4 cm
9 ½ × 12 ¼ × 2 ½ in
Price on request
Annika Thiems
Water-Repellent Case with Secured Cabinet Hinges, 2026
Oilskin, polyester, wood, metal and thread
24.4 × 32 × 8.6 cm
9 ⅝ × 12 ⅝ × 3 ⅜ in
Price on request
Annika Thiems
Upholstered Pallet Offcut, 2025
Furniture fabric remnant, pallet offcut, wadding, nails, staples and thread
42 × 14 × 11 cm
16 ½ × 5 ½ × 4 ⅜ in
Price on request
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