Artist profile: Lottie Emma

The eyes on Lottie Emma’s work say “there’s someone in here”.

They’re a window to both her experience of motherhood, and her affinity with the undervalued medium of textiles.

But there was a time when the Fleurieu Peninsula visual artist struggled to find the voice behind her work.

She went to art school in her 20s, then got into pattern-making and toyed with a fashion degree, while also raising three children, one with a disability.

“I was getting quite frustrated with not getting anywhere with what I was doing and I started experimenting with some new things and building confidence to do those new things,” Lottie said.

Then she found Nebula, a Country Arts SA professional development program that cultivates relationships between regional and metropolitan artists, gallery directors and curators.

“Nebula gave me that confidence through meeting people in the industry that wanted to help me,” she said

“It was isolating before.

“That opportunity really helped me to hone in on what I want to say with my work, and get more clear about the whys.”

Nebula led to opportunities including a mentorship with fellow textile artist Kasia Tons, and solo exhibition Cloudy with a Chance of Mum Storms at Post Office Projects.

Through the program Lottie also met Murray Bridge Regional Gallery director Fulvia Mantelli, and Lottie’s first major solo Super Mum Strikes Back came to life late last year.

Her practice has become all about experimentation and “letting the materials lead”.

“I really love when you let the fabric just kind of warp and you don’t really know what’s going to happen,” Lottie said.

“I use a lot of eyes in my work, which has come about from my story of being a mother and having a child that you always need to have an eye on.

“I find it exciting when you can embody a feeling and a moment into something and then hearing other people’s experience of that.”

The 46-year-old is now immersed in her world of embroidery, repurposed fabrics, aerosol and soft sculpture, preparing for an immersive tactile exhibition with Adelaide Contemporary Experimental in 2027.

“Now that my son’s 18 and I’m getting a bit more time and things are changing, it becomes more about me and what I want to do,” Lottie said.

“The thing that’s always kept me going and why I haven’t given up is showing that respect and care towards textiles, where it’s come from and where we can take it, that nod to women through time.”