The Texture of Home — A Conversation with Zali Rae

Zali Rae is a photographer and artist based in Australia, where she lives with her partner and young son. Her work centres on observing the creative process — people making, the objects they produce, and the spaces around them.

For Mother’s Day, we spoke with Zali about motherhood, making, and the rhythms of home.

Motherhood is full of sensory memories. What sensory details from your own childhood home do you carry with you, and have any found their way into how you've built your home for your children?

I always remembered and have loved the feeling of sitting or laying on the floor, my parents had big rugs and low tables and it’s genuinely something I definitely feel like I make sure is in each house I inhabit. As well as lots of natural  light, I remember so many moments of enjoying afternoon light or the first light of the day in different areas of our homes as a kid, and making those areas ones to be lived in so it’s always possible to make the most of that delightful sun.

How has motherhood shaped the way you create, and has that spilled into how you live at home?

I’m sure most creatives who are mothers would agree, it is the balancing act of the century. But while being that, it is also just the most incredible thing. My creativity has just quadrupled since becoming a mother, my productivity and drive to just express what I’m feeling, to succeed or be motivated in my work, to try new things and push myself. I feel braver than I did, and stronger, more willing. I just want to try it all! It has meant I have painting set up at the dining table so I can paint while we eat breakfast, life becomes about squeezing it in where you can. But it feels very important that you do.

Is there a design choice you made specifically with your children in mind that ended up enhancing the overall aesthetic of your space?

As I said about space to move in my home, floor space. Low tables and big rugs and natural light, but that’s also because I need and want those things! That enables so much room to set up the best train track in the world or have 1 million car races, to be in full imagination land. As well as run about and stretch and rest.

Which space in your home feels most representative of your relationship with your children — and what does it feel like to be in it?

I think the living area is that area for us. Communal space for all the activities, for letting him be in his play while I paint or make us food, a place for eating together, resting together, running around. I feel like it does represent our balance of energy and calm perfectly.

"My creativity has just quadrupled since becoming a mother. I feel braver than I did, and stronger, more willing."

What does the perfect Mother’s day look like to you?

Time in nature, with my little one and partner. A cafe visit, some yummy food, and lots of sun. Perhaps an afternoon of painting or doing clay, but really just enjoying each others company and the sound of water trickling over stones at the creek..is my real favourite kind of day.