Staff Profiles

Areas of Expertise

Drawing, Design, Textiles, Creative Thinking.

Teaching Areas

Drawing, Design and Creative Thinking Processes.

Current Research Activity

Associate Professor Emma Robertson was selected as the Artist in Residence at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney for 2008. This will continue her visual research exploring endangered plant species. Examples of her mixed media drawings can be seen in the three page Image Gallery on her Staff Profile Page. In 2007 Emma’s work was selected for the competitive entry Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, and in 2006 she was awarded one of the seven prizes in the 5th International Biennial of Drawing, Europe.

Since her promotion to Associate Professor in 2005, she has exhibited 34 artworks in 11 exhibitions and galleries, in 7 countries (Norway, Italy, France, USA, Germany, Czech Republic, Australia). Previously, in the period 1995-2005 as a Senior Lecturer at COFA Emma exhibited 33 artworks in 13 exhibitions in 5 countries (Australia, New Zealand, UK, Denmark, China) in a total of 26 different galleries. Emma’s artwork is now in six Public Collections in four countries, including the Hospital Trust for Scotland, who purchased two artworks commissioned by the Scottish Arts Council for the exhibition “Wordworks”.

In addition to her exploration of mixed media visual narratives in drawing, Emma also researches selected visual practices in art and design, specifically in both multi and cross-disciplinary creative thinking processes and their development. Her online course in Creative Thinking Processes enrols both undergraduate and postgraduate students from nine Faculties.

Publications

Book Chapters

Robertson, E. (2007). The Top Ten Inhibiters in Creative Thinking. The Creative Edge. (79 - 96). Sydney, Seachange.

Rogers, J. (1992). Emma Robertson. A Sense of Place. (4 - 7). Sydney, Collins, Angus & Robertson.

Published Articles

Dean, A. (2005). Pencil Gridlines and the History of Emma Robertson. COFA Magazine, (Summer). (8 - 9).

Robertson, E. (1994). Analogy and Synectics. Textile Fibre Forum, (Vol. 13, Issue 1, #39). (12 - 13, 24).

Robertson, E. (1993). Recent Works. Textile Fibre Forum, (Vol. 12, Issue 1, #36). (26 - 26).

Robertson, E. (1993). Portfolio 116. Craft Arts International, (Vol. 29). (76 - 76).

Exhibitions

Group Exhibitions

2008, Best of the International Biennial. Vestfold Kunstnersenter, Tonsberg, Norway,

2008, Best of the International Biennial. Gallery Sala Manzu, Bergamo, Italy,

2007, Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing. Adelaide Perry Gallery, Sydney,

2007, Best of the International Biennial. Museum of Arts, Limoges, France,

2007, Grafix Biennial. Municipal Museum and Gallery of Breclav, Czech Republic,

2007, Best of the International Biennial. International Currents Gallery, Chicago, USA,

2007, Best of the International Biennial. Museen der Stadt, Regensberg, Germany.

2006, 5th International Biennial of Drawing. Pilsen, Europe, .

2006, The Artistic Construction of Memory. Matthews Pavilions, UNSW, Sydney.

2006, Blake Exceptions. Chase Gallery, Sydney NSW.

2006, The Art of Memory. Goethe Institute, Sydney NSW.

2004, Roses and Thorns. Amnesty International Art Auction, Sydney, NSW.

2004, COFA Fundraising. Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney, NSW.

Exhibitions Curated

2006, The Artistic Construction of Memory, ICOM 4. Mathews Pavillion UNSW, Sydney, Australia.

2003, Drawing Connections II (curator and organiser). COFAspace, Sydney, Australia.

2003, Relationships Exhibition (curator, organiser and exhibitor). COFAspace, Sydney, Australia.