top of page

ABOUT ANJA ZANDER

"Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world."

   - John Muir   

BIOGRAPHY

Anja_Necklace_edited.jpg

Anja grew up in Germany. In 2012, she and her husband moved to Saint Leonard, Maryland. Here she finally had the chance to work with wood. Starting as a hobby-woodworker besides her regular work as an archaeologist (her focus lies on South American/ Andean Archaeology), she realized that woodworking is more than a passion, and in July 2017 she opened her woodworking/art business ZanaWoodArtZ.

Since her career's beginning, much has changed. While her early work focused mainly on functional home decor, she now creates a high variety of wood art to acknowledge the unique character of wood. Inspired by the outdoors, many of her artworks are representation of nature's beauty. Anja also understands art as a very important medium to engage with people about socio-political and environmental topics. Thus, her statement art is what she considers her most important work.

A COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIROMENT

A balanced relationship with nature is very important to Anja, and as a woodworker she feels especially committed to reduce her impact on the environment. During her wood art career, she integrated various aspects to become more sustainable.

LOCAL & DOMESTIC WOOD

Most of Anja's functional wood art is made of locally sourced domestic wood. Her favorite wood types to work with are ambrosia maple, cherry and walnut.

RECLAIMED WOOD & RECYCLED MATERIALS

Anja works with driftwood and reclaimed wood. She also re-uses packing materials and reduces the use of plastic to a minimum.

LESS VARNISHES

Anja cut down on varnishes and makes her own eco-friendly wood conditioner (a mixture of coconut oil & local beeswax.

BEE HOTELS & BIRDHOUSES

​Every spring Bee Hotels & Birdhouses are on Anja's to-do-list to provide shelter for pollinators and birds.

NEW IN 2023

PLANT A TREE!

To give back to nature, Anja donates to organizations that restore forests in the US and worldwide

01/2023: One Tree Planted

50 trees worldwide in areas affected by wildfires (planted in Mexico)

 TREES PLANTED

200

03/2023: One Tree Planted

25 trees in the Andes, supporting indigenous communities

06/2023: One Tree Planted

30 trees planted where they are needed most

09/2023: One Tree Planted

50 trees planted where they are needed most

11/2023: One Tree Planted

25 trees planted for forest fire recovery

01/2024: One Tree Planted

20 trees planted where they are needed most

MORE

AWARDS

2019

"Shadow of a Tree"

Upcycled Driftwood Lamp

Arts & Craft Fair, Catonsville, MD

2nd place

2018

Best Booth Presentation

Patuxent River Appreciation Days (PRAD), Solomons, MD

​

2017

"Chesie"

Driftwood Sculpture

2nd place

Sculpture Competition, North Beach, MD

IMG_20180705_210418_440.jpg

MEMBERSHIP

2018 -recent

Annapolis Woodworking Guild

​2019-2021

Artswork@7th, North Beach, MD

2018 -2020

Calvert Artists Guild, MD

2018-2019, 2023

Unique Boutique of Southern Maryland

2019

Northern Virginia Handcrafter's Guild

Me_inBOoth_new_edited.jpg

EXAMPLES OF ATTENDED ART SHOWS

2017

North Beach Art Show, North Beach, MD

2018

Artsfest, Annmarie Scultpure Garden, Solomons, MD

Unique Boutique of Southern Maryland, Prince Frederick, MD

2019

Arts in the Park, Richmond, VA

Lakefest, Columbia, MD

Northern Virginia Handcrafter's Guild, VA

2020

Artsfest, Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Solomons, MD

2021

Made Fair, Bozeman, MT

Made Fair, Helena, MT

2022

Made Fair, Missoula, MT

Art Sparkle, Greenbelt, MD

Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Beach Art Festival, St. Michaels, MD

2023

Arts in the Park, Richmond, MD

Art on the Avenue, Alexandria, VA

Besides combining mixed media with her woodworking skills, Anja is also a photographer, writer and designer.  If you interested in learning more about Anja and her work,  follow her on social media or check out her portfolio and statement art.

bottom of page