Wendy Fredriksson was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and raised in the cultural wilderness of White River, Mpumalanga, where art was taught via black-and-white photocopies of library books and pop culture arrived decades late, if at all. She relocated to Cape Town in 2011, via an eight year cultural detour through Johannesburg. She holds a English Degree majoring in Creative Writing through UNISA, which she obtained while building her career in the  film industry. 

 

Wendy has worked as a production designer in film since 2012. Her interest in art influences her approach to set design and creative briefs, while her attention to detail, use of colour and interest in exploring materials and textures contribute to the engaging, layered worlds of her sets. She is able to adapt to individual briefs and create worlds that range from real and gritty, to restrained and elegant, hyper stylised or surreal. She has built up working relationships with many international and South African directors in the commercials sector, as well as music videos and a long form feature showing on Netflix.  She has worked abroad in Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Cameroon, Ghana, Uganda, Mozambique and Switzerland.

​

Wendy has served on the jury for the Video Art Awards in partnership with Centro Luigi Di Sarro and the Italian Consulate in South Africa in 2019, the AICP Awards in 2021 and the Shots Awards EMEA in 2021 and 2023. She was awarded Gold at Ciclope Africa 2022 for her production design on the Zalando "Here to stay' campaign. 

​

Wendy has written, directed and produced two independent films, namely a music video in 2018 and more recently an art film in collaboration with sculptor Rowan Smith, which was shown at WhatIfTheWolrd Gallery in Cape Town. Her debut solo art exhibition opened at breakroom project space, in which she explored conceptual art through installation and working with light. Wendy’s art practice is shaped by the material and metaphorical imprints of human stories, a dry refusal to make grand statements, and an affection for things that sit just slightly out of place. 

​

​