19.10.2025

Meet Judy Millar, the artist behind our 2025 limited edition holiday gift sets

Our 2025 limited-edition holiday gift sets are brought to life through a collaboration with celebrated New Zealand artist Judy Millar, who embodies the same commitment to excellence without compromise that defines the Emma Lewisham philosophy. Known for her groundbreaking work which unites an abstract and dynamic expression of colour, form and texture, Judy infuses this season’s packaging with striking energy and depth—transforming every gift.

In this Q&A, Judy talks us through her creative process, the inspiration behind translating her large-scale abstract work onto skincare packaging, and how her decades-long commitment to off-grid living and sustainability aligns with Emma Lewisham's revolutionary approach to conscious beauty.  

In the studio with Judy Millar

In the studio with Judy Millar

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the designs you created for The Heroes and The Emma Lewisham Essentials?

Paintings are skins, fabric stretched tightly—every day I work to generate new thoughts and feelings by working intimately with pressure, fluidity, colour relations, harmony and disharmony, using my body knowledge in relation to a painting's surface. I make my work as a way of reaching out—first to discover the world itself, then to share those experiences with others. It wasn't a big leap to think about the feelings involved in applying skincare, a daily practice that is ritualistic and tender. I wanted to convey that same softness and intimacy in the packaging we developed.

Beauty is an expression of life force, and that's where my work and Emma Lewisham's vision truly collide, in vitality and energy. Knowing that my work will now be held during these moments of self-care feels deeply meaningful.

What drew you to partner with Emma Lewisham for this limited-edition packaging collaboration?

I’m always open to working in new situations and with new people, particularly when I feel I can gain different perspectives from a collaboration. I followed the launch of Emma Lewisham products with keen interest because I had become so tired of buying high quality skin care that was sold in non-recyclable packaging. It was an easy yes when asked to partner with her team for this project, the product already had my respect.

“Every time I make a step toward living more consciously, my work gains intensity. There's something about aligning your values with your practice that creates a deeper feeling in the work.”

— Judy Millar

Sustainability is central to your philosophy. How does this influence your creative process? 

As I live, I make, I do. This philosophy has guided me through nearly four decades of off-grid living. I'm a strong believer in taking full responsibility for how my actions impact the immediate environment around me. Over the last few years, I've systematically gone through all aspects of my studio practice, questioning everything from the materials I use to how I dispose of waste, the energy I consume, and even how I source my supplies. These small, deliberate changes have had big results in terms of limiting the waste I produce. 

The integrity of the process becomes part of the integrity of the work itself, and this is exactly what I see in Emma Lewisham's approach. They've built their entire brand on this same principle: that how you create is inseparable from what you create. Their commitment to circular design, ethical sourcing, and environmental responsibility is woven into the very fabric of their business.

How did you approach translating your large-scale abstract work onto skincare packaging?

I’m not a designer and am very clear about my own limitations when it comes to design processes. This needed to be a true collaboration with Emma Lewisham’s in-house designer, Fran. It began with Fran taking photographic images of paintings I had made in the past and altering them through various design programmes. It was amazing for me to see my work changed and made new through a designer’s eyes.

I took what she had done and went back to the studio to work. Colours I hadn’t used before, new moves. I came up with a large pile of potential images. Fran and I then worked together to understand how these could be translated into the scale of a not-so-large box.

Judy Millar

Is there something about Emma Lewisham’s ethos or approach to beauty that aligns with your way of thinking about art?

Art is new ways of thinking and novel ways of going about things. To break with habitual ways of doing things is difficult. It requires courage to question established methods and the persistence to find better alternatives. That's what I try to do every day in my studio—it's molecular and vibrational, working at the most fundamental level to discover new possibilities. Emma Lewisham stands for the same ambition, in its formulations, packaging solutions and business model.   

Where most beauty brands follow conventional formulation approaches, Emma Lewisham has revolutionised the entire process, formulating based on how skin actually functions rather than simply following industry standards. They've reimagined everything from ingredient sourcing to packaging design, refusing to accept that luxury and sustainability can't coexist.

This is what drew me to the brand as it mirrors exactly how I approach my work—questioning every assumption, exploring new materials and processes, always pushing beyond what's expected or comfortable. 

We're both committed to innovation that has real substance behind it. It's not about being different for the sake of being different, it's about finding genuinely better ways to live and work. That shared philosophy of meaningful innovation is what made this collaboration feel so natural and exciting.

What do you hope people feel when they see your work on these limited-edition gift sets? 

These aren't just gift sets; they're vessels for connection. I hope when people receive these sets, they feel they're holding something special in their hands—something that goes beyond the products inside, offering intention, care, and a deep respect for both the giver and the receiver.

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