About Emmellee Rose

I’m Emmellee Rose, Nelson Bay, NSW a maximalist visual artist and photographer based in Nelson Bay, NSW. My work is bold, colourful, and joyfully maximalist—filled with layered textures, vivid patterns, and an energetic mix of photography and abstract expression. I’m drawn to themes of connection: to place, to community, to memory, and to the shifting rhythms of everyday life.

My creative path has taken me from Otago University, where I studied Anthropology, to San Francisco’s Art Institute of California, and then back to New Zealand to complete a Master of Design and Enterprise. These experiences shaped the foundation of my practice—part design, part storytelling, part deep curiosity about the world around us.

Over the years I’ve exhibited in galleries across New Zealand and Australia, including the Otago Art Society, Koru Gallery in Dunedin, The ArtSpace Gallery in NSW, and The Cottage in Brooklyn, where I held a solo exhibition in early 2025. With each body of work, I explore new ways of blending photography, painting, and mixed media into immersive, tactile surfaces.

EmRoseArt — Bringing Art Into Everyday Life

In 2024, my sister and I launched EmRoseArt, a creative venture that brings my artwork into local community spaces through a growing market stall and online shop. At the stall, you’ll find a curated collection of art prints, handmade homewares, small artworks, and colourful pieces designed to brighten everyday living.

We currently trade at:

• Tomaree Markets, Nelson Bay

• Olive Tree Market, Newcastle

The EmRoseArt stall has quickly become a favourite part of my practice—a place where I get to meet people face-to-face, share stories behind the work, and offer pieces you won’t always find online. As we continue to expand our market presence and build a more robust online store, EmRoseArt is becoming a vibrant extension of my studio and creative life.

How I Work

My process is intuitive and layered. I often start with my own photographs—nature, patterns, shadows, reflections—which I transfer onto canvas and build upon with paint, collage, and mixed media. I embrace imperfection, texture, and unpredictability; the work grows through instinct more than planning.

Sustainability plays a big role too. I frequently upcycle older artworks, cutting them into small elements that become part of new compositions. I love the idea of giving materials fresh life—of letting one artwork evolve into another.

Connection at the Heart

Whether I’m creating a hand-cut collage, an abstract painting, or a photographic work, my goal is the same: to spark a moment of connection. A feeling of recognition, warmth, curiosity, or quiet joy. My hope is that you find something in my work that speaks to your own experiences and brings a touch of colour and meaning into your space.

Please contact me if you are interested in commission artworks.