Artist statement
Through my work, I often examine the complex relationships between people, materials and objects within the systems of capitalism. I seeks out the moments where subject-object relations might exist outside these systems as a way of considering alternatives to them. I have an ongoing practice of observing and collecting within daily life from which my research and creative works often evolve.
Bio
Aphra Cheesman (b. 1989, Auckland) is a contemporary jeweller currently living and working in Naarm/Melbourne. Her practice includes contemporary jewellery, objects, drawing, video and sculpture. Aphra graduated from RMIT with a BA Fine Art (Honours) in 2020 and has also completed a diploma in Jewellery and Object design at Melbourne Polytechnic. In 2019 she was selected for the Fresh! Graduate exhibition at Craft Victoria and the Gallery Marzee International Graduate Show (NL). She was also a finalist in Talente 2022 (DE). Aphra is the recipient of the Future Leaders award (Craft Victoria, 2019), the Joel Elenberg prize (RMIT, 2020) and the Emily Hope award (RMIT, 2020).
Masterclass with Estela Saez
Our masterclass with Estela was engaging, thought provoking and fast paced. During our meetings, there was no time to over think things – sometimes we only had 30 seconds to make something so we no choice but to go with our first instincts. It was challenging (in a...
SHAPE SHIFTER: HS6 Fundraiser
The HANDSHAKE6 group has been collaborating on a fundraising necklace project for a while, and they are excited to share the results! These necklaces are a collaboration between the group with each participant designing one of the 12 shapes. There are 4 different...
Aphra Cheesman winning the Prize for Design
HANDSHAKE 6 artist Aphra Cheesman won the TALENTE PRIZE - Prize for Design 2022 at TALENTE ('Preiss für Gestaltung'), Munich MORE
Jewellery (and sometimes not jewellery)
Over the past couple of years I have been making a lot of objects with a plan that they will become jewellery. Whether I add a necklace cord or brooch fitting, or perhaps they trigger an idea for a future jewellery piece. But, a year later I looked back and these...
Aphra Cheesman‘s art works:
