Jennifer Robertson
Textiles
Accredited Professional Member
Jennifer Robertson embraces an artistic studio practice of contemporary textiles. Non-compliant with narrow boundaries, she pursues an expanded field of textile expression which abides at the forefront of innovation, marrying structure and materiality, surface and pattern. With a career spanning over thirty five years, Jennifer Robertson is recognised internationally and considered one of Australia’s most established and respected textile artists.
Thematic project based research focusses on exploring relationship between nature, human form/condition and animal, vegetable and mineral materiality. Working on a purpose built digital hand-loom uniquely situates her innovative practice between traditional hand-weaving and small scale production. Artistic outcomes include multiple layered three dimensional and large scale geological woven artworks, innovative Australian fine merino wool wearable and interior, upholstery and small scale, miniature artworks.
Engaging appropriate metaphors and analogies, Robertson’s creative processes are akin to playing a strategy game of three dimensional chess with threads, often resulting in simultaneously emergent unique materialities and unfamiliar techniques, beckoning acquaintance.
Robertson’s work is exhibited nationally and overseas in international juried group and solo exhibitions including Canada, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, UK, Ukraine and USA.
Works are held in public and private collections including National Gallery of Australia, Art Gallery of South Australia, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Buckingham Palace, London, UK, NUNO Corporation, Tokyo, Japan and Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, New York, USA.
Highlights from Robertson’s career include a two year Australia Council Visual Art Craft Fellowship 2001-2003, one year artsACT Creative Fellowship 2004-2005, Australian National University VC Arts Fellow 2016, national and international lectures and residencies including Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles, Canada, Fondazione Arte della Seta, Lisio, Florence, Italy and invited collaboration with leading NUNO Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
Alongside significant international and national Awards and project grants, recent highlights include Honourable Mention at Cheongju International Craft Competition, South Korea, 2023. In 2024, Jennifer is currently exhibiting in Beyond - Tapestry Expanded, Peeler Art Center, De Pauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, USA; Material Thinking, 2nd International Material Art Biennale, Karamay Festival of Materiality, Tsinghua University, Xinjiang, China, Weaving Matter, Ararat Gallery TAMA, Victoria, and Mirror and Metaphor, Criteria C Gallery, Melbourne. Jennifer Robertson is represented by Criteria C Gallery, Melbourne where she will hold a solo exhibition of large scale artworks in 2025. She has been an Accredited Professional Member of Craft ACT since it’s inception.
Jennifer's upcoming exhibitions:
2025 Honourable mention, Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Cheongju, South Korea, Sep 4 - Nov 2, 2025
2025 6th Triennale of Kogei, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan, Nov 8-26, 2025
2025Â Solo exhibition, Formations, Criteria C Gallery, Melbourne, opens Nov 13, 2025
Solo exhibition at Criteria C Gallery, Melbourne, opening Nov 19th, 2025
Solo exhibition at Cox Architects, Canberra, moving to a new location in Deakin, opening late November 2025.
2025-2026 Make Award, Australian Design Centre, Sydney, October 10-Nov 19, 2025, Jam Factory, Adelaide, Dec 5 - April 12, 2026
2025 - 2026 Upcoming, 13th Lausanne to Beijing International Fiberart Biennale, Tsinghua University Art Museum and AC Art Museum, Beijing, China, Dec 6- March 1, 2026
2026Â Upcoming, 6th Tamworth Triennial, Nature Machine, Tamworth Regional Gallery, NSW, Sept 22 - touring until 2027
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Online Resources:
Website:Â jenniferrobertsontextilesweaving.com
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