Jessika Spencer | Ngurru

Australia | Baskets & Jewelry

Jessika Spencer is a Wiradjuri fibre artist based in Australia, working under the name Ngurru. Her weaving practice began in childhood and has grown through years of learning with family, Aboriginal women from different communities, cultural exchanges, and workshops. She describes her knowledge as cumulative, shaped by many teachers and always acknowledged as shared rather than owned.

Her work is grounded in Wiradjuri coiling and weaving traditions originally used to make functional objects such as baskets, dillybags, mats, and coolamons for gathering and carrying food. Jessika extends these techniques into contemporary forms, including sculptural baskets, large wall hangings, adornment, and installation-scale works. The larger pieces are especially striking, built slowly through continuous coiling and careful stitching that requires focus, rhythm, and physical endurance.

Materials are central to her process. Jessika works with native grasses, reeds, lomandra, raffia, seed pods, shells, and emu feathers. Many fibres are gathered and prepared by hand, then dyed using natural pigments and ochres. She also incorporates reclaimed materials such as soft plastics and worn textiles, bringing environmental care and cultural responsibility into the work. Every choice is guided by respect for country and seasonal cycles.

Spiral forms, basket shapes, and dillybag structures appear throughout her work. These are not decorative motifs but cultural references to pathways, songlines, cycles of life, and the role of women as knowledge holders and providers. Each piece carries a story, a memory, and a connection to the land.

Alongside her own practice, she regularly leads weaving workshops with children, families, and elders, creating spaces for learning, storytelling, and healing.