Storytelling | Freida Hamm

FREIDA HAMM Storytelling

Storytelling is a collection of works by TN artist Freida Hamm. Born in Selmer, TN, Freida always felt a profound connection to landscapes and her surroundings and used her artwork to translate those feelings into paintings.

While Hamm discovered her artistic calling early on, it wasn't until her children had left home that she pursued formal artistic training. In 1981, she enrolled at the Memphis College of Art. Her senior year Hamm was awarded the coveted, prestigious Memphis College of Art Traveling Fellowship. This distinguished fellowship allowed Hamm to travel to Colchester, England, and immersed herself in the works of John Constable, a renowned British landscape painter of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

International travel proved transformative for Freida, revealing its pivotal role in discovering inspiration. In 1982, she penned a passage in her sketchbook, declaring, "For the first time in my life, I know who I am: A Landscape Artist."

Her artistic journey was marked by exhibitions, with her debut showcase at the Alice Bingham Gallery in 1985. Alice Bingham, who collaborated with Freida for many years said of Hamm’s work, "I believe that Freida’s paintings reveal a reverence for the specific, natural world around her, creating a spiritual connection with her viewers."

Developing a distinctive artistic style characterized by vibrant, deep colors and distorted shapes, Freida emphasized the importance of seemingly insignificant scenes and the stories they held. Her careful observation and contemplation over a lifetime contributed to these unique depictions.

Freida's works was created with great intention and significance. Her paintings resonated with a wide range of people, drawing them in with her unique signature style and then leaving it to the audience to dissect and apply their feelings to the world she created on canvas.

I can paint the feelings and thoughts for which I have no words; my vocabulary seems to be in color.

-FH