Bio
Anja Prescher is a contemporary artist living in Southern California, with her husband and two toddler daughters.
Having learnt painting under European artists in Germany, mastering the art of using natural textures as well as adding a variety of mediums and oil paint, she has developed her own unique style over the years. She is passionate about heavily textured, abstract paintings with realistic elements that reflect her passion for the beauty, textures and colors of nature.
Raw and earthy materials inspire her creations, which she typically starts with an eclectic mix of fabric, sand, gold leaf, natural elements and impasto paste to achieve a three-dimensional experience on canvas. Multiple layers of acrylic paint washes, expressive spray paint and mark making add to the depth of the pieces.
She then completes her paintings with vibrant oil colors to render more realistic form and to fully bring the paintings to life.
Anja Prescher has studied in Germany, France and the US and holds a Master’s Degree in Media Business, as well as an International MBA. She is now studying at the Milan Art Institute to challenge herself further.
Currently, Anja's paintings can be openly accessed through her website, Behind-the-Scenes Studio Sales, and Art Exhibitions like the Laguna Beach Art-a-Fair, one of the premier juried art shows in Southern California.
Artist Statement
My art aims to be a heartfelt conversation that blends the feel of textured art with the depth of traditional oil painting.
Inspired by the vibrant scenes of the American West and the lively dance of hummingbirds, I draw on the deep connection to nature celebrated in German Romanticism. I aim to show that nature is more than just a view; it can deeply touch our souls and emotions.
My creative process is a journey without a map, where the destination reveals itself in the making. It starts with the tactile—the feel of natural materials that carry their own stories. I layer heavy textures and natural materials, embracing the imperfections, rawness, and authenticity of earth's gifts. Sand, crushed seashells, crocheted fabric, cotton, burlap, and thick impasto paint are some of my tools for crafting three-dimensional pieces.
I'm inspired by the interplay of light and shadow and the color palette of America's West—the soft pinks of canyons at dusk, the calm teals of the Pacific, and the radiant golds of the setting sun.
On my abstract canvases, motifs of agile hummingbirds and human silhouettes take shape, symbolizing peace, joy, and resilience.
My art invites you to celebrate life, find solace in nature, and let go of the fears that hold us back, fostering a connection with the world around us and the divine spark within.
I was never meant to be an artist...
…or so I thought. Until one night changed everything.
