Jilli Manning

Step into Jilli Manning’s colourful world of painting, sculpture and imagination, where play is at the heart of making art.

Growing up in a family of artists in Brisbane, Jilli explored creativity from an early age. Today, her practice ranges from spray painting to polymer clay sculpture, building forms and patterned surfaces in layers while following the ideas that emerge along the way.

In this film for the PROCESS exhibition at CRATE59, Jilli shares the childhood memories behind a miniature diorama: exploring her neighbourhood, visiting an elderly neighbour’s lounge room and being fascinated by clocks she wasn’t allowed to touch. These recollections become the starting point for a small world she hopes viewers can get lost in.

It’s a warm glimpse into a practice shaped by nostalgia, curiosity and the pleasure of becoming absorbed in the creative process.