Evoking a profound sense of space and place, the artist utilises her domestic environment as both a reference and an anchor, drawing on it as a site of inspiration. Her works blur the line between figuration and abstraction, with hints of figurative imagery woven into the fabric of her abstract, non-representational compositions. These internal painterly dynamics, references to light, colour, and the shifting qualities of the everyday world, create an intimate yet expansive dialogue between the internal and the external, the personal and the universal. Through this, Velde-Schaffer’s practice embodies an ongoing exploration of transformation, capturing moments in which the boundaries between form and feeling, material and emotion, dissolve. The artist’s meticulous attention to surface texture and colour creates a rich visual experience, inviting viewers to move through her compositions with both reverence and curiosity.
Emma Velde-Schaffer holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) from the University of Canterbury’s Ilam School of Fine Arts and a Master of Design from the University of Technology, Sydney. Born in Ōtautahi Christchurch, she continues to live and work in the city. Her work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions, and her paintings are held in private collections throughout New Zealand.
Parnell Gallery has represented Emma Velde-Schaffer since 2025.