Emily-Rose Wills

Emily-Rose Wills is an artist and arts administrator based in Kinimathatakinta/George Town, Lutruwita/Tasmania. Her work explores the relationship between place, memory, and identity, drawing inspiration from the landscapes and communities of Northern Tasmania.

She was fortunate to know from a young age that she wanted to pursue a career in the arts. While studying Contemporary Arts at the University of Tasmania in Launceston, she worked with Junction Arts Festival, Party in the Paddock, and Sawtooth ARI. After relocating south, she held roles with Mona Foma and Mona, contributing to arts and events across Lutruwita/Tasmania.

Now based back in the George Town Municipality, Emily-Rose is the Arts and Culture Officer at George Town Council, where she develops exhibitions, events, and arts programming that celebrate local stories and engage the community. Alongside her work in cultural development, she maintains her own creative practice, exhibiting intermittently across Tasmania.

Throughout her career, she has worked with various organisations including Derwent Valley Arts, Constance ARI, Music Tasmania, Stompin Youth, Vibestown, Falls Festival and The Village.

Her return to Northern Lutruwita/Tasmania has strengthened her commitment to regional arts, community-led projects, and ensuring that local artists have opportunities to create and share their work.

Solo Exhibitions
2025
Infinite Realms, part three,  Madeline Gordon Gallery (Launceston)
Infinite Realms, part two,  Devonport Regional Gallery (Devonport)
Infinite Realms, part one, Wildly Abigail (Launceston)
2023
Imprinted Environments, Instinctive Abstractions, The Gallows (Launceston)
2021 
placement_undecided, Salamanca Arts Centre (Hobart)
2017 
Redefining Home, Sawtooth ARI (Launceston)
2015 
Immersion to Emersion: Explorations of Place, Process and Materiality, Powerhouse Gallery (Launceston)
2014 
Icelandic Landscapes / Icelandic Structures Project, Sawtooth ARI (Launceston)

Group Exhibitions
2025
The Bridge Art Prize 2025, 9B Studios (New Norfolk)
Bay of Fires Art Prize 2025, Panorama Hotel (St Helens)
Go Orange for Muscular Dystrophy Week, Madeline Gordon Gallery (Launceston)  
Incognito Art Show, The Garden Gallery, Royal Botanic Garden (Sydney)
2024 
The Eclectic Wall: Small Works, Bold Statements, Madeline Gordon Gallery (Launceston)  
tidal.24: City of Devonport National Art Award, Devonport Regional Art Gallery (Devonport)
Annual Members Show, Sawtooth ARI (Launceston)
The End Of The Rainbow, Watch House Gallery, Presented by Lighthouse Regional Arts (George Town) 
SLMxERW, Watch House Gallery (George Town) 
Minds do Matter, Queen Victorian Museum and Art Gallery (Launceston)
Fifty Squared Art Prize, Brunswick Street Gallery (Melbourne)
Making Hearts Happy, Jim Mooney Gallery, Presented by Outer Cover Creative (George Town)
25+1, Sawtooth ARI (Launceston)
Simple Cider Benefit, Moonah Arts Centre (Hobart)
2023 
Gather Together, Salamanca Arts Centre, Presented by Fort Heart Co (Hobart)​
Warehouse Group Show, Vibrance (Hobart)
2021 Glenorchy Open, Moonah Arts Centre (Hobart)
2020 Monanista, Republic Bar Gallery (Hobart)
2019 
Home Sweet Home, Sawtooth ARI, Curated by Amy Bartlett (Launceston)         
Glenorchy Open, Moonah Arts Centre (Hobart)          
Monanista, Altar (Hobart)
2018
Fundraising Gala Silent Auction, Constance ARI / Visual Bulk / TV Haus (Hobart)          
tidal.18: City of Devonport National Art Award, Devonport Regional Art Gallery  (Devonport)          
Monanista, Republic Bar Gallery (Hobart)
2017
Tasmanian Portraiture Prize, Salamanca Arts Centre (Hobart)         
Annual Members Show, Sawtooth ARI Gallery (Launceston)         
Annual Silent Auction, Sawtooth ARI Gallery (Launceston)
2016 
Tasmanian Portraiture Prize, Salamanca Arts Centre (Hobart)         
Annual Members Show, Sawtooth ARI Gallery (Launceston)         
Annual Silent Auction, Sawtooth ARI Gallery (Launceston)
2015 
Art ‘n’ About Mobile Gallery:Movement, Junction Arts Festival (Launceston)
ART2015, Academy Gallery, Curated by Amelia Rowe (Launceston)         
Wonderland, Academy Gallery, Curated by Malcom Bywaters & Susan Henderson (Launceston)         
Powerhouse Art Prize Finalist Exhibition, Powerhouse Gallery (Launceston)         
Annual Members Show, Sawtooth ARI Gallery (Launceston)         
InauguralFringe Exhibition, Powerhouse Gallery, Co-Curated with Mae Finlayson (Launceston)         
Annual Silent Auction, Sawtooth ARI Gallery (Launceston)         
Third Year Pop Up Show, Powerhouse Gallery (Launceston)
2014
Annual Silent Auction, Sawtooth ARI Gallery (Launceston)         
Grand Opening Show, Bakers Lane, Curated by Rhiannon James (Launceston)
2013 
Annual Silent Auction, Sawtooth ARI Gallery (Launceston)
2012 
In the Good Old Summer Time, Powerhouse Gallery, Curated by Rhiannon James and Alice Reynolds (Launceston)
2010 
Drug Action Week: Mind Your Mind, Academy Gallery (Launceston)

Public Art
2024 Infinite Scale, ArtStreetArt, George Town
2015 Decay in the Bay, Lulworth / Tam O’Shanter Bay

Moving Image
2024 Creative Associate, Sinking Ship, Film Clip, Dvrkworld
2024 Creative Associate, Close Up!, RANT Arts (FKA Regional Arts Network Tasmania)

“Performance”
2024 “Delegate“, TISM Talks, Assembly 197 x Loren Kronemyer, Mona Foma
2021 “Cabaret Act“, The Shitshow Hobart, Kitsch Events, The Grand Poobah  
2019 “Painting Dragger“, Circumambulation: Launceston, Margie Livingston, Mona Foma
2015 “Dancer“, 6000 to 1, Stompin Dance, Ten Days on the Island
2012 “Actor“, The Democratic Set, Back to Back Theatre, Junction Arts Festival
2012 “Dancer“, On Your Marks, Stompin Dance, Ten Days on the Island

Creative Direction, Curatorial and In Residence
2025 Artist Residency, The Royal Oak Hotel
2025 Creative Direction, Solstice in the Square, George Town Council
2025 Curation, Kinimathatakinta/George Town Art Prize, Jim Mooney Gallery
2024 Creative Direction, Solstice in the Square, George Town Council
2024 Curation, Kinimathatakinta/George Town Art Prize, Jim Mooney Gallery
2016 Guest Curator, Sawtoothers, Virtual Experimental Art Project
2015 Co-Curation, InauguralFringe Exhibition, Powerhouse Gallery
2015 Co-Curation, Annual Silent Auction, Sawtooth ARI Gallery
​
Selected Achievements
2025 Finalist | The Bridge Art Prize 2025
2025 Finalist | Bay of Fires Art Prize 2025
2024 Finalist | tidal.24: City of Devonport National Art Award
2017 Finalist | tidal.18: City of Devonport National Art Award
2017 Finalist | RACT Tasmanian Portraiture Prize
2016 Finalist | RACT Tasmanian Portraiture Prize
2015 Dean’s Role of Excellence | University of Tasmania
2015 First Place | Powerhouse Gallery Art Prize
2014 Dean’s Role of Excellence | University of Tasmania
2012 Academic Achievement Award | Pre-Tertiary Art Studio Practice, Newstead College 
2009 People’s Choice | Extended Learning Portrait Project, Department of Education 
2008 First Place Packing Prize | Extended Learning Portrait Project, Department of Education 
2008 Purchase Award | Extended Learning Portrait Project, Department of Education 
​
Selected Education and Training
2025 Community Leadership Program Tasmania(five-day course), Australian Rural Leadership Foundation
2024 Equip Leadership Toolkit (national career development and leadership program), Accessible Arts Australia
2024 Governance for Social Impact, Centre for Social Impact / UNSW Sydney
2015 Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (Visual Arts Major), University of Tasmania
2009Design ’09 (three-day course), University of Tasmania School of Architecture and Design
2008 Zine Cloud Project (weeklong course), Department of Education / Arts Tasmania / Tasmania Living Writers’ Week

Selected Professional Experience

August 2024  – Present
Sawtooth ARI
Board Member

January 2024 – Present
George Town Council 
Arts and Culture Officer (part-time) 
Youth Engagement Associate (casual)

May 2023 – February 2024
Derwent Valley Arts
Board Member

October 2018 – November 2023
MONA – Museum of Old and New Art       
Music at Mona + Mona Foma
Program Manager/Program Administrator
​
May 2023 – July 2023
MONA – Museum of Old and New Art       
Ticket Support, Bookings + Enquiries
Stakeholder Relationship Liaison (Secondment)

July 2021 – Present
Australian Women in Music
Awards Juror 

December 2020 – October 2022                            
Music Tasmania
Secretary / Board Member

July 2017 – August 2019                             
Constance ARI
Board Member

March 2016 – October 2018                         
MONA – Museum of Old and New Art
Functions + Events                    
Functions Sales and Administration

March 2013 – December 2015                      
Sawtooth ARI Gallery                      
Gallery Attendant

April 2012 – September 2015                       
Junction Arts Festival                      
Marketing and Program Coordinator                           

December 2015 – January 2016                     
The Falls Music and Arts Festival
Artist Liaison                              

November 2012 – March 2015                     
Party in The Paddock Festival
Assistant Director and Co-Founder

March 2012 – August 2015                           
Stompin Youth Dance Company
Board Member / Dancer / Creative Contributor / FOH