Anja Van Herle is a Belgian-born painter known for her vibrant, large-scale portraits that blend classical painting techniques with contemporary fashion aesthetics. Born in 1969, Anja studied at Belgium’s Higher Institute for Art Education, where she earned a Fine Arts degree in Painting. Her early fascination with fashion design continues to inform her work, which centers on idealized female figures framed by expressive eyes, stylized hair, and signature eyewear often adorned with Swarovski crystals. In 2003, Anja relocated to Los Angeles, where her practice evolved into a unique fusion of European elegance and American pop sensibility. Through her use of bold color, high-gloss finishes, and glamorous iconography, Anja explores identity, emotion, and the language of fashion. “If the eyes are the window to the soul, then glasses are more than just an accessory—they’re an extension of one’s personality,” she says.