Yvette Coppersmith + Anouska Milstein, A.mi
Site 4
Abstraction, small weaving 1
About the design
This bold, expressive painting anchors the children’s playroom, resisting a reductive reading of childhood as whimsical or decorative. Instead, the work channels the true spirit of play: fearless, unbounded, full of colour and conviction. The palette pulses with deep hues, layered to create a textured surface that is both energetic and absorbing. There is a rhythm to its composition that mirrors the momentum of children at play; dynamic, fluid, unafraid. The tactile presence of the work encourages a direct, visceral engagement, reflecting how young bodies move through space with spontaneity and feeling. In this setting, the painting becomes more than visual – it’s a gesture of activation, a call to embrace joy, motion, and possibility.
The abstract painting reclaims signature elements from key movements within 20th century Australian and International modernism. Engaging with emotive rhythmic compositions and colour orchestrations that evoke the spiritual strands of transcendental painting and Orphism. The painted surface is built up over layers of pigment and sand, to create a texture evocative of tapestry. The tactility of surface in the painting connects with a somatic experience when viewed in the flesh. In a similar sense tapestry operates on a somatic level as an element in the home.
About the designers
Yvette Coppersmith is a Melbourne-based painter working across portraiture, abstraction and still life. In 2018, she won the Archibald Prize, becoming the tenth woman to receive the award. A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (2001), she won the inaugural Metro Prize in 2003 and has been a finalist in the Darling Portrait Prize (National Portrait Gallery), Arthur Guy Memorial Award (Bendigo Art Gallery), Geelong Contemporary Art Prize (Geelong Gallery), Len Fox Art Award, and the Portia Geach Memorial Award (S.H. Ervin Gallery).
Coppersmith has exhibited in Melbourne and Sydney, and made her international debut at Art Basel, Hong Kong in 2025. Her work is held in numerous public and private collections. Her upcoming solo exhibition with Sullivan+Strumpf (October 2025) will include a commissioned tapestry produced in collaboration with the Australian Tapestry Workshop.
Anouska Milstein, founder and director of interior design practice A.mi, is known for her thoughtful, intuitive approach to creating spaces that are both deeply personal and effortlessly functional. With a refined eye for detail and a passion for history of design, she blends form and feeling to craft environments that truly reflect the lives and essence of those who inhabit them.
Drawing on a strong foundation in spatial planning and aesthetics, Anouska balances beauty with practicality, often incorporating natural textures, clean lines, and layered elements to evoke warmth and clarity. Her work is informed by a deep sensitivity to her clients' stories and a commitment to honest, collaborative dialogue. Whether designing homes, workspaces, or hospitality venues, she brings a calm, grounded presence and a dedication to excellence and longevity. In her practice, Anouska nurtures a holistic approach to creative business - one that honours wellbeing, integrity, and the value of meaningful connection.