Artist Statement

Acclaimed internationally for innovative and complex woven textiles, Jennifer Robertson uses a unique purpose built digital handloom and her works span a broad range of textile practice-led research outcomes including sculptural relief and miniature 3D artworks, interior and fashion. Thematic research projects focus on exploring relationship between environment, science, human form, interior space and materiality through the use of weaving metaphors and analogies. Investigating the poetic and evocative nature of materials interplay using soft engineering, threads are constructed into often innovative multiple layered structures imbued with sensorial characteristics. 
Jennifer has collaborated with international textile industry with special woven textile production outcomes and recently with earth science research to realize sculptural woven 3D geological artworks using new materials – basalt, carbon, glass, stainless steel, copper, silver and polyester. 
She works independently in her studio on thematic research projects with outcomes such as woven design prototypes; innovative woven 2D and sculptural relief 3D artworks; miniature textile 3D artworks; and limited edition production – fashion/smart textiles such as sensorial, luminescent wraps, scarves, fashion – and comfort/performance interior textiles, including upholstery and furnishings. 
Research interests include creative technical materials, soft engineering and design innovation, sensorial comfort and sustainable fashion.
 Jennifer Robertson lives and works in Canberra, Australia.

 

 

JENNIFER ROBERTSON

CURRICULUM VITAE

Website            http://jenniferrobertsonweaving.com

email –             Jennifer.Robertson@anu.edu.au, robertsonj3@optusnet.com.au

 

Qualifications and Training

2003/06  Jacquard Design Certificates, Fondazione Lisio, Florence, Italy.

1987           Established Weave Studio, Australia.

1984-5       Post Graduate Studies in Woven Textiles, Royal College of Art, London, UK.

1981-4        BA Hons Degree in Woven Textiles, West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham, Surrey, UK.

Professional Activity

2017  VCCAFS talk, Australian National University Art Forum, Canberra.

2016  Lecture, Southern Highlands Fibre Textile Network, Sturt Craft Centre, Mittagong, NSW

2016  Invited Speaker, 11^th International Biennial Contemporary Textile Conference, Kherson, Ukraine.

2013 present Lecturer, Course Convenor, Foundation Studies, School of Art, RSHA, CASS, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

2012  Lecture, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

2009  Lecture, Tokyo Zokei University, Tokyo, Japan,

2009  Lecture, Kyoto Seika University, Kyoto, Japan.

2009  Lecture, Kawashima Textile School, Kyoto, Japan.

2009  Lecture, Sheridan College of Art and Design, Toronto, Canada.

2009   Speaker, “Inspired Design, Entrepreneurial Jacquard Textiles”, Center for Craft, Creativity and Design, North Carolina, USA.

2008  Lecturer, Jacquard Workshop, Fondazione Lisio, Florence, Italy

08,06,05,03 Residencies, Fondazione Arte della Seta Lisio, Florence, Italy.

1997 – 2011   Lecturer, Textiles, School of Art, Australian National University, Canberra.

2005  Acting Head, Textiles, Australian National University.

2005  Member Craft Australia Export Advisory Group.

2004  Lecture, The Surrey Institute of Art and Design University College, UK

2004  Lecture and Residency, Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles, Canada

2004  Lecture, University of Canberra, Architecture Dept, Canberra, ACT

2004  Presentation, Space Between Conference, Perth, WA

2003  Lecture, Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles, Canada

2003   Lecture, Danish Design School, Copenhagen, Denmark

2000   Presentation of work to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of ACT Government.

1999  Executive Committee member, “Shikat” project, Philippines.

1999   Textile Network ACT committee member.

1998  Exhibition Coordinator, “Folding”, Legislative Assembly, Canberra.

1997  Speaker and invited Lecturer, Canberra Spinners and Weavers Guild, Canberra.

1994  Lecturer, Textiles, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA.

1993  Invited Judge, City of Perth Craft Award, Perth, WA.

1991-2  Lecturer, Textiles, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA.

1988  Lecturer, Summer School, Albany, WA.

1987-96  Established Studio, Royal George Arts Centre, Fremantle, WA.

Exhibitions

2017  2017 Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award, Wangaratta Art Gallery, Victoria.

2017  The Gift Project, Marmara University, Kadikoy, Istanbul, Turkey.

2017  The 8^th International Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Mini Textile Art “Scythia”, Kherson/Ivano Frankivs’k, Ukraine.

2017  VCCAFS 2016, Australian National University Foyer Gallery, Canberra, ACT

2016  “From Lausanne to Beijing 9^th International Fiberart Biennale, Shenzen, China

2016  “Petite”, National finalist, Textile Minatures, Wangaratta Art Gallery, Wangaratta, Victoria.

2016 International exhibitor, “Embracing Innovation”, CraftACT, Canberra, ACT.

2016 International Finalist “11^th International Biennial Contemporary Textile Art Exhibition, Kherson, Ukraine.

2015 “UnEnFolding”, Solo exhibition, Gallery Gallery, Kyoto, Japan, Nov/Dec2015.

2015  National Finalist, biennial Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award, Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia.

2014-15  National Finalist “Bespoke”, Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.

2014  “Small Works” Beaver Galleries, Canberra, ACT.

2014  “Petite”, National Finalist, Miniature Textiles, Wangaratta Art Gallery, Wangaratta, Victoria.

2013 “Creating Depth Woven Space” Solo exhibition, Narek Galleries

2012  Fireside Festival focus, Beaver galleries, Canberra, ACT

2012  Jennifer Robertson @ Santa Fe Weaving Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, USA.

2011 “Elements Fibre”, Celebrating 100 years Canberra, CraftACT, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

2011 National Finalist, “1^st Tamworth Textile Triennial, Tamworth Regional Gallery and touring nationally until 2013.

2011 National Finalist, “Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award” Wangaratta Art Gallery, Wangaratta, Victoria.

2010-11 “Of Light and Air” solo exhibition, Narek Galleries, Tanja, NSW.

2010 National finalist, “Petite Miniature Textiles” Wangaratta Exhibitions Gallery, Victoria.

2010 “Weaving Air” solo exhibition, Beaver Galleries, Canberra.

2009-10 “Bravura” Art Gallery of South Australia.

2009 Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award, Wangaratta Exhibitions Gallery, Wangaratta, Victoria.

2009  “Transitions”, National Wool Museum, Geelong, Vic.

2009  “Art Work” ANU SoA Gallery, ANU, Canberra, ACT.

2008-09 “Inspired Design, Entrepreneurial Jacquard Textiles”, Center for Craft, Creativity and Design, North Carolina, USA, touring until end of 2009.

2008-9  “40 Highlights from the Ararat Regional Art Gallery”, Victoria.

2008 “Texture and Light”, joint exhibition with Christopher Robertson, Narek Galleries, Tanja, NSW

2008 “Threadbare” Manning Regional Gallery, NSW

2008 “Botanicals” Object Gallery for Contemporary Craft and Design, Sydney.

2008 “Freestyle” Design Triennale Museum, Milan, Italy.

2007 Co-curated “lightweight?” Textile exchange exhibitions held at Dunedin Polytechnic, New Zealand and ANU Foyer Gallery, Canberra.

2007  “New Under the Sun” new works for Judaica, Jewish Museum, Sydney and travelling until 2009,

2007  “Smartworks”, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

2006  “Freestyle” Object and Melbourne Museum travelling until 2008.

2005 “Confluent” with Christopher Robertson, Narek Gallery, Tanja, NSW, and Ararat Regional Gallery, Victoria.

2005  “Visions from the South”, Textiles and Ceramics from ANU and USQ double exchange exhibition. Co-curated with Greg Daly, ANU.

2005  “Design-ed” Australian National University, School of Art Gallery, Canberra.

2004/5 “Miniartextil”, International Miniature Textiles, Como, Italy, Nule, Sardinia and Montrouge, France.

2004 City of Hobart Art Prize, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania.

2004 “The Space Between”, PICA, Perth, WA

2004  “Collect”, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK

2004  “Tripleweave”, Solo exhibition, Craft ACT, Montreal Centre for Contemporary Textiles, Canada and focus at Livingstone Studio, London, UK.

2002 “From Canberra to Kyoto”, Kyoto Seika University, Japan.

2002 “Trademarks”, Craft ACT, Canberra, ACT

2002  “City of Perth National Craft Award”, Perth, WA.

2002  “Australian Craft”, Mokkumto Gallery, Seoul, Sth Korea.

2001-2 “Floral Emblems of Australia”, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra.

2001 “City of Perth National Craft Award”, Perth, WA.

2001 “Divergence”, Siam Centre, Bangkok and Chang Mai University, Thailand.

2001 “Double Portion”, Solo exhibition, Craft ACT, Canberra and Craftwest, Perth, WA.

2001 “20th National Craft Acquisition Award”, MAGNT, Darwin, NT.

2000-2 “Frisson”, 14th Tamworth Fibre Textile Biennial, national tour.

2000-1  “Loom”, Artlounge Gallery, Adelaide, SA and Craft Victoria, Melbourne.

2000 “Woolly Mantle”, Solo exhibition, Brisbane City Gallery, Brisbane, Qld.

2000  “In Our Hands”, International Miniatures, Nagoya, Japan.

2000  “Domestic Design”, Craft ACT, Canberra.

2000  “Miniatures”, Gallery Gallery, Kyoto, Japan.

2000  “Folding”, Itami Art and Craft Museum, Hyogo pref, Japan.

2000  “Strength to Strength”, Craft ACT, Canberra

1999  Beaver Galleries Christmas Show, Canberra.

1999 “Touching the Landscape”, joint exhibition, Australian National Botanic Gardens,Canberra.

1998-9  “Folding”, Dowse Museum, New Zealand and Legislative Assembly, Canberra.

1999 “25th Alice Craft Acquisition Award”, Alice Springs, NT.

1997  University of Woollongong, NSW.

1997  5th International Textile Competition, Kyoto, Japan.

1997  Foyer Gallery, Craft ACT, Canberra.

1997  17th National Craft Acquisition Award, MAGNT, Darwin, NT.

1996  “Gestaltendes Handewerk”, Munich, Germany.

1996  “The Language of Thread”, Art Gallery of Western Australia.

1996  “Folding”, Artshouse Gallery, Perth, WA.

1995   “Vic Health Craft Award”, National Gallery of Victoria.

1995   “Directions”, Contemporary Cloth, Craft ACT, Canberra.

1995  “Woolworks”, Moora, WA and National Wool Museum, Geelong, Victoria.

1994  “Designed and Made”, Craftwest, WA

1994  Hyatt Hotel Foyer Gallery, Surabaja, Java, Indonesia.

1994  4th International Textile Competition, Kyoto, Japan.

1993   “Wanneroo Craft Award”, Perth, WA.

1993    “York Art and Craft Award”, York, WA.

1993    Perth Waldorf Craft Award, Perth, WA.

1992 “Textiles and Praxis”, Craftwest, Perth, WA.

1991   “City of Perth Craft Award”, Craftwest, Perth, WA.

1991   “Are You Sitting Comfortably?”, Jamfactory, Adelaide, SA.

1990  “City of Perth Craft Award”, Craftwest, Perth, WA.

1990  “Woolcraft Awards”, Moora, WA.

1989  “Commissions for the King”, joint exhibition, Craftwest, WA.

1989  “City of Perth Craft Award”, Craftwest, Perth, WA.

1988  “Woolcraft Awards”, Moora, WA.

1984  Seven Dials Gallery, London, UK.

Prizes, Grants

2016  Individual Project Grant, Australia Council for the Arts.

2016 Australian National University Vice Chancellor College Artist Fellow

2011  New Work grant, Visual Arts Crafts, Australia Council.

2009  Decree of Excellence, International Biographical Centre, UK.

2009   Award for Best Transformations of Colour, National Wool Museum, Geelong, Victoria.

2005  Export Market Entry Grant, Business ACT, Canberra.

2005   Export Market Development Grant, Austrade

2004   2005 1 year Creative Arts Fellowship, artsACT.

2004  Canberra Critics Circle Award.

2004   Howard Nye Outstanding Award for Hand Weaving, CraftVIc,      Melbourne, Victoria.

2004  Australia Council / CraftACT Craft-In-Site grant.

2004  artsACT Travel Grant, Canada and UK

2004  CAPO General Project Grant.

2003  ArtsACT Project funding, residency at Fondazione Lisio, Firenze, Italy.

2001-3  Australia Council Visual Arts Crafts 2 year Fellowship, VACF, Australia Council.

2001  Canberra Critics Circle Award.

2001  artsACT Quick Response Grant, travel, solo exhibition, Craftwest, Perth, WA.

1999  CAPO General Project Grant.

1998  NS Grant, Australian National University, Canberra.

1996  Project Grant, New Work, Visual Arts Crafts Fund, Australia Council.

1995  WA Department for the Arts, Conferences/Seminars Grant.

1994  Visual Arts Crafts Fund, Australia Council, International Promotions Grant, Japan.

1994  Visual Arts Crafts Fund, Australia Council, Project Development Grant.

1993  Award for Excellence, Perth Waldorf Craft Award, Perth, WA.

1993  Award for Excellence, Wanneroo Craft Award, Perth, WA.

1993 WA Department for the Arts, Conferences/Seminars Grant.

1993  Craftsman of the Year Award, York Art and Craft Award, Perth, WA.

1991 “Prize for Excellence”, City of Perth Craft Award, Perth, WA.

1990 “Prize for Excellence”, City of Perth Craft Award, Perth, WA.

1989 “Highly Commended”, City of Perth Craft award, Perth, WA.

1988  Australian Merino Society Award, Woolcraft Awards, Perth, WA.

1983 “Commendation”, Royal Society of Arts Bursary Competition, London, UK.

Commissions

2015  Private commission, Sydney.

2005-6  Velvet Jacquard Prototype Commission, Historic Houses Trust, Government House, Sydney.

2000 Renwick Alliance, Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC, USA.

1998 Private commission, Seoul, South Korea.

1991 Joint furniture private commission, Perth, Western Australia.

1988 Major Fibre Optic Commission, Museum of Science and Technology, Perth, WA.

Collections

Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, New York, USA

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace, London, UK

Nuno Corporation, Tokyo, Japan

National Gallery of Australia

Art Gallery of Western Australia.

Art Gallery of South Australia.

Museum and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory.

Ararat Regional Art Gallery, Ararat, Victoria.

Renwick Alliance Collectors, Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC, USA.

Cleveland Museum Collectors, Ohio, USA.

Oakland Museum Collectors, Oakland, California, USA.

Mint Museum Collectors, Charlotte, Nth Carolina, USA

Numerous national and international private collections including,

Canada, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA.

National – ACT, Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia.

Work represented by

Beaver Galleries, Canberra, ACT

Craft ACT, Canberra, ACT

Gunyulgup Galleries, Yallingup, WA

Jam Factory, Adelaide, SA

Planet Furniture, Sydney NSW

Sturt Gallery, Mittagong, NSW

Production

2014-15 Short run studio trial double cloth production run.

2013-14 Development prototype textile designs for production by Australian Mills.

2005-6  Historic Houses Trust, NSW Government House Sydney, Jacquard Velvet Prototype Commission, Italy.

2006  Silk production, collaboration between Bianchi company, Como, Italy  and Fondazione Lisio, Florence, Italy.

2001 Double cloth manufactured by NUNO Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.

Bibliography, Publications

2016  web article, Spain, http://www.textilesnaturales.com/archives/17354

2016 Her Canberra, Embracing Innovation volume 6, Wendy                  Johnsonhttp://hercanberra.com.au/cpstyle/jennifer-robertson-embracing-innovation-volume-6/

2013 Digital Jacquard Design, J Holyoke, published Bloomsbury, UK

2013 Bega District News, article, March 1st

2010 Canberra Times, weaving air.

2008  Jacquard magazine, issue 61

2008 “Inspired Design” Center for Craft, Creativity and Design, NC, USA.

2007 “Smartworks”, Design and the Handmade, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

2007  Who’s Who of Australian Women.

2006  “Freestyle” Thames and Hudson,UK.

2005  Selvedge magazine, UK May/June issue.

2005  “Two Shades of Excellence”,Sunday Times, Oct16th.

2004  “Canberra Times”, March 12

2004  “Collect”, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK.

2004  “Object” magazine, no 44 p 25.

2002  “Craft Arts International”, magazine, major article, Oct/Nov no56

2002   ABC “Stateline” Television programme, September 13th 2002.

2002  ABC national television programme, “Coast to Coast”, May 19th 2002.

2002  Front Cover, Craft ACT Exhibition programme.

2001 “Double Portion”, David Bromfield, West Australian Newspaper.

2001  ABC television “Snapshot” programme, April.

2001  Articles “Craft Bulletin” magazine, Craft Victoria, volumes 1 and 2, 2001.

2001  Articles, Canberra Times newspaper, March and April.

2001  Front cover, USA “FIBERARTS” promotional brochure.

2000-1  USA “FIBERARTS” magazine, major article and front cover, Dec/Jan.

2000 “Loom”, Front cover, catalogue and article.

2000  Article, “Object” magazine, no 4-00, p89.

2000  “Craft Arts International”, “Frisson” article, October 2000.

2000   “Canberra Chronicle”, front page, March 28th.

1999 Craft ACT “Profile”, Nov/Dec.

1999  “Muse article”, Dec.

1999  “Muse”, Floriade article, September.

1997  “Masters of Their Craft”, Noris Ioannou, Craftsman House.

1997  “Nouvel Objet II”, Design House Publications, Seoul, Sth Korea.

1995   “Textile Fibre Forum”, magazine, Profile, winter 1995.

1994  Craftwest, “Profile”, Crafts Council of Western Australia.

1994  Video production for SBS television.

1994   ABC television educational programme.

1994  “West Australian Weekend” magazine, Jan 29th.

1991  “International Crafts”, Martina Margetts, Thames and Hudson.

1989  “Interior, Architecture and Design”, Issue 21, YPMA Sydney.

1989  “Modern Australian Furniture”, Michael Bogle, Craftsman Press.