Amy Claire Mills

Hi, my name is Amy, and I’m your most beloved textile artist! I’m disabled and make art, curate exhibitions, produce events and advocate for access and representation within the arts! I live and create on Gadigal and Wangal country.

My outrageous artworks serve as a form of protest, infusing softness, tactility, empathy, and care with elements of dissent, disruption, and provocation.

What led me to textiles? I have to thank my wonderful best friend and fellow artist, Bailee Lobb, for introducing me to the enchanting soft world of textiles. I met Bailee while studying for my Fine Arts Degree at UNSW. We were in the same Sculpture, Performance, and Installation class, where she created the most interactive and tactile artworks using textiles.

We started collaborating and formed a performance art collective, Show Us Your Teeth, alongside fellow artists Katie Bobis and Monica Rudhar. We crafted wild costumes and performed in them, which was a foundational moment for me. This experience ignited my love for textiles and the joy of working with other artists to create radically fun and playful artworks.

So, I would say I have been working with textiles as the main medium in my art practice for the past seven years.

At the moment, I'm in the very early planning stages for a new work. This is the less glamorous phase of creating art, where I develop budgets and write proposals. It’s probably my least favourite part of the process because you have the initial idea and spark, but then you’re bogged down with all the boring details.

However, I have an artist residency planned early next year, and I'm very excited about it. I will focus on developing artworks using different beading techniques during the residency. I have been itching to play with beads and sequins for a while.

My biggest sewing success was probably creating my quilts for the Unsolicited Advice! exhibition at Firstdraft. I had done an exhibition the year before that included quilted artworks, but looking back, those designs were quite simple, although the quilts were massive. For the Unsolicited Advice! exhibition, I wanted to make the quilts more detailed and complex.

Having never quilted before, I worked with my partner's mom, Shirley (shout out to Shirley, she is amazing!), who taught me how to bring a quilt to life. The funny thing was that I kept bringing her these unique fabrics, such as sequined, spandex, and faux fur. Each time, she would remind me that these are not traditional quilting fabrics. I think I stressed her out a lot! But my quilts weren't meant for the bed; they are artworks, and there was always something about those unconventional fabrics that just worked.

So, my lesson from this experience is that you don’t always have to follow the rules and that connecting to history and tradition can be done in your own way.

I've had many flops, LOL. I actually don't consider myself the best sewer. I struggle with complex clothing designs and tend to skip the "measure twice" step, diving straight into cutting! I think it’s my ADHD; I get so excited and never want to slow down. I always have a million projects on the go, and most of them go unfinished!

One of my biggest flops was during a recent exhibition where I created large soft sculptures of different medical tools. I ended up scrapping my original design for the stethoscope because I became obsessed with the idea of colour blocking, wanting each tool to be made in different shades of one colour. I found this neon green vinyl, but it didn’t work with anything else in the exhibition, so I had to start over and go much bigger!

But I guess the lesson would be to take a step back and consider the overall design rather than trying to force things together that don't fit. Also, trust yourself. If you were drawn to a fabric, it might not work as you initially planned, but you were attracted to it for a reason, and you will find a use for it in another project.

I have two items which I adore! The first is my "Disabled Bitch" t-shirts, which I collaborated on with an amazing designer, Eddie Andrews. Eddie helped me transform my quilt designs into stunning graphics, which were then printed on t-shirts. This is my go-to everyday wear for Disability Pride Month!

The second item is a cowhide jumpsuit that I bedazzled with sequins and beads for a friend's Dolly Parton-themed engagement party.

How tactile, ridiculous and dramatic textiles can be. Access is a major consideration in my work. I recognise that not everyone experiences art visually, so I create soft pieces that feature a variety of textures, allowing people to explore them in different ways. I’m drawn to playful, interactive, and immersive art because our sense of touch is so important and often underrated and underutilised within the arts. The variety within textiles, from wool to polyester, offers a vast range of histories and methods. I feel like Alice down the rabbit hole, with so much to explore within this medium.

This is a time to celebrate disability culture, learn from disabled storytellers, and embed access throughout our communities. It’s about justice, equity, and access. Throughout my life, so many people told me that my life would be better if I could be cured! I didn’t understand why people always viewed my life as a tragedy; I have never seen it that way.

Growing up, I wasn’t aware of Disability Pride Month, but now that it’s more widely recognised, I value its celebration. Because disability isn’t the problem; it is the lack of access and prejudice that is!

I believe it begins with listening to disabled people, amplifying our voices, and ensuring we are included in the conversation. NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US!

Access supports are essential for everyone; consider glasses, which remove a barrier for 55% of people in Australia. Access shouldn’t be seen as an insurmountable challenge but as a vital step toward equality. It’s crucial that everyone has equal access to our communities and feels safe and supported.

Sewing and crafting spaces often already incorporate access measures, though they may not know. Take knitting, for example; it can be enjoyed in a cozy, quiet and seated environment. If you have a crafting group, consider meeting in a space with quiet areas, with wheelchair access, and benches/tables at accessible heights. Always extend invitations to friends who may not always be able to attend events and explore ways to include them remotely, such as through video chat functions.

Another critical aspect is to ensure your communities are intersectional and that you support, learn from and amplify diverse voices!

Favourite textile books:

Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones by Dolly Parton (An amazing book that explores her iconic costumes throughout her career)

Weaving: Contemporary Makers on the Loom by Katie Treggiden (A fantastic book showcasing contemporary weavers)

Making the Australian Quilt: 1800-1950 by Annette Gero & Katie Somes (A comprehensive look at the history of quilting in Australia!)

Favourite blog: Martha Moore (Buried Diamond) – OMG, I adore everything she creates! Her wardrobe is goals 💕

Favourite podcast: Our Voices Our Lives Our Way – A brilliant podcast hosted by comedian Madeleine Stewart. It’s a must-listen for and by LGBTQAI+ and disabled people! Also, they have a vlog with captions! We love an accessible ICON!