OTTAVIA FENNESSY
Ottavia Fennessy
The Littlest Sister — a series of miniature enamel portraits
2026
[sample]
copper, enamel, 55 x 25 x 4mm
[box], copper, enamel, 40 x 40 x 24mm
[pendant], copper, enamel, thread, 55 x 35 x 3mm
[brooch], copper, enamel, brass, silver, steel, freshwater pearl, 34 x 34 x 9mm
Photography Chris Bowes.
ARTIST STATEMENT
OTTAVIA FENNESSY
Inspired by miniature enamel portraiture that was popularised in the 17th century, The Littlest Sister series adopts classical enamelling techniques, in which powdered glass is fired onto copper. Each piece reimagines photos from the family album, which can be worn or carried. Comprised of enamelled copper, brass, steel and salvaged materials these pieces reflect the challenge of acquiring silver or gold as a student, but demonstrates the ingenuity that creatives use to imbue jewellery with value.
PROFILE
Ottavia Fennessy is a multidisciplinary artist based in the Dandenong Ranges on Wurundjeri Land, working across painting, drawing, and metalsmithing. Her practice is influenced by the natural environment, with a particular focus on native flora and the cyclical rhythms of growth, decay, and renewal. The movement and presence of people shape her drawing practice, through which she captures memory and sentiment, often in portraits of those close to her. These sensibilities extend into her metalwork, where she translates painterly and gestural qualities into form, frequently incorporating second-hand and repurposed materials.
