S o u t h E a s t e r n C o n t e m p o r a r y A r t N e t w o r k
Elma Young
Elma is a fibre artist and basket maker specialising in working with natural fibres. She began her arts career working for community arts projects in Liverpool in the 1980’s and gained a BA Hons Degree in Fine Art (Sculpture) from Liverpool Polytechnic. Elma has worked as an Arts/Crafts Tutor in the UK as well as Australia and has exhibited in Australia since 2011. She now works as a florist.
Plants, especially trees, have always inspired Elma to create and she photographs their structures and growth habits as a reference for her sculptural pieces. Unpredictability of working with natural fibres is an essential part of her work.
‘I have always been an artist and I cannot remember a time when I wasn’t creating, making or exploring.’
‘I see the making of baskets as a vehicle for artistic expression that has endless potential for development. I articulate ideas and themes through the physical manipulation of fibres and create sculptural forms that not only have a framework which reflect rhythms and growth patterns I see in nature, but which also create shadows and encapsulate space.’
Elma is also a member of the Basketmakers of Victoria. You can contact Elma via email at em4elmayoung@gmail.com or through one of the following social media platforms.
https://www.instagram.com/elma.flowers/
https://www.instagram.com/em4elmayoung/