Artist Statement

My artistic practice investigates the space where fashion, sculpture and pop culture intersect. By extracting textile elements from their original functional contexts, I translate garments and soft materials into three dimensional wall sculptures. Through techniques such as padding, weaving, and the strategic use of negative space, I build works that balance the tactile softness of high fashion with the architectural precision of fine art.

Grounded in a background in fashion design and educational science, my process treats fabric not merely as surface, but as a structural and emotional medium. The tension between fluid, padded volumes and rigid geometric boundaries reflects an ongoing negotiation between emotional expression and disciplined form. In an era dominated by fleeting digital imagery, these works assert a physical, slow presence that demand space and invite a deeper, tactile engagement.

Profile of a woman with long white hair, wearing a nude colored top. In the background you see a textile artwork against a white wall. The fabric art is made out of a wool fabric, in a camel tone and plays with padding and negative space.

Biography

Ester Yandell (*1992, San Antonio, Texas) is a German-American artist living and working in Munich, Germany.

Her multidisciplinary background forms the foundation of her singular approach to textile sculpture. Yandell holds a Master’s degree in Educational Science from the University of the German Federal Armed Forces and a degree in Fashion Design from the AMD Academy Fashion & Design. Before committing fully to her fine art practice, she served for eight years as an officer in the German Armed Forces and gained extensive industry experience within international luxury fashion houses, including Hugo Boss.

Integrating the tactical discipline of her military background with the material mastery of high fashion, Yandell translates structural rigor and resilience into physical form. Her practice bridges these seemingly disparate worlds, positioning her as a distinct voice at the intersection of sculptural abstraction, material culture, and contemporary fine art.

A woman with long white hair and light skin, wearing nude colored lingerie, stands in front of a white wall with a dark brown textile art piece. It is made out of leather and plays with ruffles, weaving and the use of negative space.

CV

Education
2024 B.A. Fashion Design, AMD Academy Fashion & Design, Munich, (Exchange Studies: Kingston University, London, UK).
2019 M.A. Educational Science, University of the Federal Armed Forces, Munich, Germany, (Summer School: UCLA, Los Angeles, USA).
2015 B.A. Educational Science, Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg, Germany, (Exchange Studies: Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Canada).

Awards & Honors
2024 Valedictorian Award, AMD Academy Fashion & Design, Munich, Germany

Selected Exhibitions
2024 Graduate Showcase, AMD Academy Fashion & Design, Munich, Germany

Selected Press & Publications
2024 "Featured Artist," MO:DE Magazine, Issue 15, Munich, Germany

Background / Non-art experience
2025 Designer, Hugo Boss, Metzingen, Germany
2012–2020 Officer, German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr), Germany