Kjaer has a degree from Guelph University in Art and focused on art classes during her teaching degree from Western University. She has taught art at the elementary level along with Grades 8 to 12 and at the University level including Drawing, 2D and 3D. While teaching, Kjaer both took and taught adults in a multitude of varied art classes. Her life has revolved around her artistic pursuits and exploring various forms of art. Kjaer began life as an artist, and is experienced in working with clay, charcoals, paints and pastels. She inherited this artistic soul from her Danish father and her passion for creating from her black mother. After teaching, Kjaer became Artist In Residence (over 4 years) and was given a house and a place to explore her artistic pursuits. She was also a dedicated potter, but, when she began working with fabric, she knew she had found her true medium. Her dad was a master tailor trained in Denmark, and her mom was a seamstress, but, until this time of Kjaer's life she did no sewing. Self taught but always searching and learning, Kjaer designs and plays with every garment much as she did her pottery and all of her art. Free spirited and joyous.
KOME creates Art and Style, for all size women, in her Vancouver studio. Slow Fashion by this artist is simply joyous to wear everyday and for all occasions. The diversity of her clothing line is representative of the respect of individuality in the beauty of EVERY body. Kjaer has always been an artist and she personally creates wearable art with intention. No two garments are identical and each one incorporates the playful artistic spirit of the artist. Kjaer loves to play and it shows. She free hand cuts and then sews jackets, ponchos, ruanas, vests, tunics and tops. Along with the regular KOME array of individually made clothing, Kjaer is integrating more recycled vintage fabrics and now has a line of upcycled reimagined garments. Kjaer also has an exclusive line and is dyeing, bleaching, stamping, appliquéing and painting on fabrics right in her studio. The KOME Clothing line chooses fabrics carefully, her line consists mostly of reimagined clothing, along with an abundance of natural fibres including silk, wool, cotton, tencel and linen. A feast for the eyes, and pleasure for the soul is in store for anyone visiting a KOME market, her studio and online too!
We respectfully acknowledge that the Filberg Festival takes place on the unceded traditional territory of the K'omoks First Nation, Gila 'kasla...Hay ch q'a'.
