Peter Frederiksen Dramatizes the Dark Humor of Classic Cartoons in His Cropped Embroideries

Art
Craft

#cartoons
#embroidery
#humor
#Peter Frederiksen
#pop culture

Peter Frederiksen Dramatizes the Dark Humor of Classic Cartoons in His Cropped Embroideries

March 27, 2024

Grace Ebert

“The days keep getting longer.” All images © Peter Frederiksen, shared with permission

Chicago-based artist Peter Frederiksen (previously) pinpoints the most ridiculous, exaggerated moments in cartoons and animated shows to dramatize them further into absurdity. Cropping a single outlandish action or event, Frederiksen uses free-motion machine embroidery to stitch stylized compositions that, out of context, emphasize their dark humor.

Recent works include a Looney Tunes-style mishmash of feet and fists that burst through a bulging door in “Some locks won’t hold” and the tongue-in-cheek archery challenge of “Going easy on myself.” Often focusing on escalated tensions, the embroideries accentuate moments of high anxiety in a nostalgic, comforting childhood medium.

Frederiksen has started to switch to digital jacquard weavings for larger pieces. The base becomes a guide for his stitches and provides a colorful backing, which allows for less dense compositions. He’s also incorporated more unwieldy crops, including in works like “The days keep getting longer,” portraying a preposterously elongated filing cabinet.

In April, Frederiksen will open a solo show at Steve Turner Gallery in Los Angeles, along with a dual show in June at UNION Gallery in London. He plans to release a limited-edition print with All Star Press on April 25 and has a candle collaboration coming this spring with Varyer. Follow his latest works and chances to attend one of his workshops in Chicago on Instagram.

“Start in the middle and work back”

“Some locks won’t hold”

“Closer with every cut”

“Going easy on myself”

“Interrogation of desire”

#cartoons
#embroidery
#humor
#Peter Frederiksen
#pop culture

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