​​​

 

​

​

​

About
 

Emma Bugg, (b. 1981), is a contemporary jeweller and artist based in lutruwita/Tasmania, Australia. Her practice combines traditional metalsmithing with unconventional materials, including concrete and emerging technologies such as NFC tags, QR codes, and AI, subverting expectations of scale and permanence within jewellery to create storytelling objects that explore connection and memory.  Her work sits between the physical and digital, inviting reflection on how objects carry meaning over time.

​

Since establishing her professional practice in 2010, Emma’s work has received national and international recognition, including major awards and institutional exhibitions at MONA and Science Gallery Melbourne. She is co-founder of State of Flux Workshop (est. 2020), an artist-run studio and gallery that supports contemporary jewellery and object makers through a shared workshop space, exhibitions, talks, and public programs.

​​​​​​

​

Employment

2023-2024              Peer review panel, RANT arts, Arts Tasmania

2011-2017              Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) Gallery invigilator, performance artist

2011-present          Practicing artist, self-employed

 

Education

2025              Metal fabrication and Welding, short course, TAFE Tasmania

2015              University of Tasmania, Foundations of Technology for Healthy Living

2012              Postgraduate Master class, Contemporary Art Jewellery- Karl Fritch and Lisa Walker, University of                                                  Tasmania 

2009-2010     Tasmanian Polytechnic. Diploma of Art, Craft & Design in jewellery design

2000-2002     University of Tasmania, School of Fine Art. Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) degree

 

Awards and Major Projects​​
2025              Australian Design Centre MAKE award finalist, ADC, NSW  + Jam Factory, S.A

2025              Elemental Memories, Project for Unconformity festival, Queenstown TAS

2025              Inaugural winner, The Bridge art prize, Bridges and Bloodlines necklace. 9B Studios, New Norfolk, TAS

2024.             Acquisition, Big Mac brooch, 2015 edition. MONA Private Collection

2024              Woollahra Small sculpture prize finalist-  Nuggets of Wisdom & Fries with That

2024              Private commission, David Walsh and Kirsha Kaechele -10th Wedding anniversary-bespoke jewellery. 

2024              A Moment to Reflect, Thylacine de extinction collaboration with Prof. Andrew Pask. Not Natural exhibition, Science                         Gallery, Melbourne

2023              Gilded Memories, Charm Necklace for Queenstown. Unconformity festival

2023              Women’s Art Prize -  Fellowship Recipient -Established Artist, RANT Arts & Bell Bay Aluminium

2019              Decay concrete bangle, Finalist Footscray Art Prize

2017              Shrapnel necklace Finalist in National jewellery award Toowoomba Contemporary Wearables

2016              Awarded development grant to explore use of concrete. Arts Tasmania

2014-2016     Awarded studio residency, Arts Tasmania - Connected program

2015              LINK festival, Melbourne. Fellowship awarded. Granted RAF Quick Response funding to attend

2014              Commissioned by Artist Hubert Duprat to make gold chips for caddis fly artwork, MONA

2014              Crown Commission for wedding of Kirsha Kaechele & David Walsh, MONA

2013              Love Brooch Project Selected for Toowoomba Contemporary Wearables, (AUST/NZ)

2013              Observatory necklace chosen for international publication in Lark 500 series book ‘500 Art Necklaces’

2012              Selected as Top 5 Tasmanian artists, 30 & under Nicole Durling, Senior curator at MONA

2011              Private Commission- brooch featuring QR code technology for David Walsh, owner MONA museum

 

​

Solo Exhibitions

2021             Seeing in the Dark, Handmark Gallery, Hobart

2020             Still Life, Handmark Gallery, Hobart, Tasmania

2019             Explorations in Concrete, Moonah Arts Centre, Tasmania

2016             Exhibition of new work; Emma Bugg. Handmark gallery, Hobart, Tasmania

2014             Let’s get Metaphysical, Handmark gallery, Hobart Tasmania

2012             Hear my voice before it is spoken, Handmark gallery, Hobart, Tasmania

2011             Unearthed, 146 Wallspace, Arts Tasmania. Collection of new jewellery

2010             Emerging Artists show; Emma Bugg & Blair Waterfield. Handmark gallery, Hobart, Tasmania

​​

​

Group Exhibitions
2026                Makers, Moonah Arts Centre, TAS

2025/26           Australian Design Centre MAKE award finalist, ADC, NSW  + Jam Factory, S.A
2025                Crown exhibited at Ladies Lounge, HOTA, QLD
2025                There are no Straight Lines, Poimea Gallery, Launceston TAS
2024                Woollahra Small Sculpture prize, Sydney, NSW

2024                Namedropping, MONA TAS

2024                Absolute Piston Gauges, Contemporary Art Tasmania

2024                Not Natural, Science Gallery, Melbourne

2023                Difficult Terrain, Schoolhouse Gallery, Rosny Farm

2023                Precious-  Excellence in Contemporary Jewellery. QVMAG, Launceston Tasmania

2022                Certain Women, Soggy Brolly Gallery, Queenstown, Tasmania

2021                Radiant Pavilion, The Boroughs, Melbourne, Victoria

2020-2023       Crown exhibited at Ladies Lounge, MONA

2018                Triple Parade, HOW Design Centre, Shanghai, China

2017                Toowoomba Contemporary Wearables '17- Biennial Jewellery Award & Exhibition

2017                In-house, Moonah Arts Centre, Tasmania

2017                Material: Concrete, Artisan Gallery, QLD

2016                The Contemporary Jewellery Exchange International online exhibition    

2015/16           Sweet Tribology, Area Recreativa Monte Deva, El Pinar, France

2015                Earthcode, Plimsoll Gallery, University of Tasmanian School of Fine Art

2015                Connected,  146 Art Space, Arts Tasmania

2015                Earworms, GAFFA gallery, Sydney NSW

​

​​​Professional Development​

2024                Guest speaker, Agents of Change: Women in Design 2024

2018                Undisciplined conference, Hobart, Tasmania

2015                Parallels design conference, Melbourne

2015                Parallels design camp. Selected to attend five day camp with national & international artists & designers

2015                Women in Design. Design Centre, Launceston

2015                LINK festival-Design, technology and social change. Melbourne.  

2015                Earthcode | core litany Selected to participate series of field trips, discussion panel & create                                                          responsive artwork

2014                Transmediale festival. Attendee and technical assistant for Nancy Mauro Flude, Haus der Kulturen,                                                Berlin, Germany

​

​
Referees:       Available on request