ABOUT
Textile Conservator & Researcher
Head Conservator
Livi van de Star MSc. is a textile conservator with over ten years of experience in the preservation, conservation, and restoration of cultural heritage. She holds a Master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage and a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Conservation. Her wide-ranging experience spans museums, religious institutions, galleries, private clients, conservation studios, and laboratories across Europe and the United States.
Credentials
- Postgraduate Certificate, Applied Conservation, University of Amsterdam
- MSc., Conservation & Restoration of Cultural Heritage, University of Amsterdam
- Member, American Institute for Conservation (AIC)
- Member, International Council of Museums (ICOM)
- BA, Art History & Mathematical Statistics, Wake Forest University
Selected Collaborators & Clients
Institutional partners in conservation treatment, technical research, and public programming across Europe and the United States.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
The Rijksmuseum
The Autry Museum of the American West
The Museum of African American Art (MAAA)
The North American Textile Conservation Conference (NATCC)
The American Institute for Conservation (AIC)
The Getty Museum
The National Holocaust Museum
Conferences & Symposiums
The studio regularly contributes to professional conferences and symposia, sharing case studies, technical research, and approaches to public engagement in textile conservation.
The 2025 NATCC Annual Conference
Presented findings on fiber degradation patterns in historic silk and wool artifacts at the North American Textile Conservation Conference (NATCC), focusing on preventive strategies and cleaning chemistry.
The 2025 AIC Annual Meeting
Delivered a talk on microclimate enclosures and humidity control in long-term storage environments at the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) annual meeting.
The 2024 Stichting Ebenist Conference
Collaborated with museums and local organizations to design public programs and workshops on textile care, exhibited at international conservation symposia across Europe and the United States.
Divine Interventions, Stiching Ebenist 2024
Case studies on reversible mount systems and strain-reducing supports for garments and banners, presented at international forums with an emphasis on documentation and reversibility.
The 2022 Textiel Dag Conference
Case studies on reversible mount systems and strain-reducing supports for garments and banners, presented at international forums with an emphasis on documentation and reversibility.
The 2024 5&Under Alumni Art Talk, Wake Forest University
Case studies on reversible mount systems and strain-reducing supports for garments and banners, presented at international forums with an emphasis on documentation and reversibility.
The studio also develops tailored workshops and public programs on textile care, preventive conservation, and the ethics of treatment for institutions and community organizations.
Research Topics
Methods of Magnet Mounting for Mixed-Materials
Rigid Gel Cleaning Methods for Early Synthetic Organic Dyes
Investigating the Solulability of 20th Century Gelatin-Based Sequins
Strain Measurement on 3D Textiles Using Digital Image Correlation (DIC)
The Emergence of Open Lab Art Conservation: Applying the Postmodern Influence of Cesare Brandi on the Field of Conservation
Historical Case Study on Civil Rights Era Art: An Expose of Pollock
In addition to ongoing research, the studio maintains a full range of conservation services for historic and contemporary textiles, garments, and mixed-material objects.
Schedule a Consultation
The studio provides preliminary assessments and preservation guidance for historic textiles, garments, banners, and mixed-material objects.
Contact the Studio