Emma Michaelis

Statement

Australian artist Emma Michaelis makes large-scale coloured pencil on paper drawings which seek to uncover the human relationship to parameters of physicality and the conscious/unconscious link between self and body.

With a focus on female subjectivity, Emma asks the viewer to redefine their ideas of the location of being, using surface as a juncture between the viewer and the image, she bodily constructs the works life sized, questioning individual and shared experiences of being through reconstruction of the figure.

Asking: can we know what it is in some art that engenders real affective connections rather than detached representation? Seeking to locate the moment where we can begin to recognise the self present in the image of an others form and reconcile that understanding with the reality of being bodily.

In her current practice, she is particularly interested in exploring the female body as a site of rich and contested meanings. Exploring the complex tensions that exist in the space between actual embodied female experience and its representations, and how she might productively enter that space in the work as a female visual artist drawing real women.

Through years of making art and extensive working and exhibiting, Emma has developed a deep connection to the articulation and interpretation of the human condition corporeally. Often utilising the female figure shown in a moment of disconnected, quiet contemplation, to open up conversations about the fractured nature of self knowing and the affective interpretations of art and body which help to navigate discussions of the relational potential existing between the viewer and artwork for affectively interpreting through the body, art concerning the body fragmented.

CV Summary

b. 1985, Australia

Education

• 2015 BA Fine Art (Hons) – RMIT: First class Honours
• 2014 BA Design Arts, Visual Arts – Academy of Design Australia: Dux
• 2014 Adobe suite for design and presentation – RMIT
• 2003 Design Fundamentals – TAFE

Employment

• 2015 Casual presenting Academy of Design
• 2015 Casual workshop and student tutorials Academy of Design
• 2014 – Current Nicholas Blackmore Framing assistant
• 2012 – 15 Magnani Paper Importers
• 2014 Artist assistant to Amy Watson

Forthcoming

• 2016 Flinders Lane Gallery, Explorations 16, Melbourne
• 2016 Bright Face Song series Art and design collaboration project with Hello Satellites

Solo

• 2016 Enough Space, Solo Show, I am a River, Melbourne
• 2016 GlogauAIR Arts residency, Berlin
• 2015 Montsalvat Arts Festival featured artist, Melbourne
• 2014 /15 Montsalvat, Solo Show, Subsistence, Melbourne
• 2014 Tinning Street Presents, Solo Show, We are, I am, Melbourne
• 2013 Tinning Street Presents, Solo Show, Emma Michaelis, Melbourne
• 2013 Brunswick Street Gallery, Solo Show, Blemish, Melbourne

Group

• 2016 Sad by Sad West Festival
• 2016 Rubicon ARI, Aimee Boa curated Group Show, Melbourne
• 2015 RMIT, Graduate exhibition, Melbourne
• 2015 The Memo, Jayden Morrison curated Group Show, Untitled, Melbourne
• 2015 Academy of Design, Do What you Love, Melbourne
• 2015 Metro Gallery, Hot to Watch, Melbourne
• 2014 Dancing dog, Mental for Lentils, Melbourne
• 2014 BSG, Group Show, Body Sex, Melbourne
• 2014 Academy of Design, Difference Design Makes, Melbourne
• 2014 Clement Meadmore Gallery, La Chasse, Melbourne
• 2013 Tinning St. Smash n Grab, Melbourne
• 2013 Clement Meadmore Gallery, Ignite, Melbourne
• 2013 Bruce Gallery, Bye bye Bruce, Melbourne
• 2013 RMIT, Curated by Katie Paine, Melbourne
• 2013 Open Space Gallery, Eckphrasis, Melbourne
• 2013 Conduit Art Gallery, Art Fete, Melbourne
• 2012 Brunswick Street Gallery, 40×40, Melbourne
• 2012 Brunswick Street Gallery, Dirtying the Paper, Melbourne
• 2012 Clement Meadmore Gallery, Melbourne

Curatorial

• 2014 Ruffian Gallery, Gather, Melbourne

Performance/Exhibition

• 2009/10 BunHeads, Solo Show, (Produced by) PACT, Curated by Quarterbred, Sydney

Business/Artistic partnership

• 2015 Friday Collective founding member
• 2015 Promotional photography for CHWH
• 2014 Love through all, Kindle edition book cover art design
• 2012-15 wetwoareKUNsT, Ceramics/Stoneware, Jewellery and Sculpture

Publications/Reviews

• 2015 ‘Bob’ first edition, AAD.
• 2014/15 AAD official Student Diary inclusion
• 2014 Plan + Express contribution
• Emma Michaelis, ‘Swallow, Flex and Wither’ opening at Tinning Street, Sam West, Three Thousand. March 2013 Colour Figures, Mark Holsworth, March 22, 2013
• 2013 AAD 2013 official Student Diary inclusion
• Swallow, Flex, and Wither, Nikita Vanderbyl, Art/Smitten, March 2013

Commissions/Collections

• 2015 Tess Gieroba
• 2015 Commissioned works for L’Oreal Professional fashion week
• 2014 Maja Baska
• 2013 John Michaelis

Awards/Acknowledgement

• 2016 Vice Chancellors award of excellence RMIT
• 2015 Directors award of High Distinction (AOD)
• 2015 Award of Distinction (AOD)
• 2015 President’s Award for Excellence (AOD)
• 2015 AOD Official Student diary inclusion
• 2014 Directors Award scholarship (AOD)
• 2014 Merit Award scholarship (AOD)
• 2013 Ignite Competition: Winner
• 2013 Study Tour recipient Paris and London, Academy of Design
• 2013 Directors Award scholarship (AOD)
• 2013 AOD Official Student diary inclusion
• 2012 DGmagazine Design Competition: Notable entry
• 2012 Merit Award scholarship (AOD)

Internships

• Nicholas Blackmore framing
• Magnani Paper
• Hairdressing apprenticeship 2009 – 12

Volunteering

• 2015 YouthNow
• 2015 RMIT Graduate Catalogue committee, Honours representative
• 2013-15 Tinning Street Presents
• 2013/14 Academy of Design open day volunteer
• 2013 KingsAri
• 2013 Bruce Gallery

Gallery