5 Creative Questions with… Liz Lau

Sunny Saturdays are good for grocery shopping. I found myself at The Grocery Store in Marrickville recently, pondering the joys of a felt hat that resembles a lemon meringue pie; iridescent asparagus spears that have sprung little hands (and are, improbably, wall hooks); and fish-shaped hair combs. By now, I'm sure you've gathered I did not wander into Aldi, but into a brilliantly kitschy-cool store of artist-made things. It was when my former art director, Joss, and I were thinking about jasmine rice while admiring tiny sacks that nod to that fragrant Asian grain that Liz Lau, one of the artists, popped up. Liz, the maker of the mini rice sacks and also, orange pouches and fruit sticker-themed knick-knacks, is someone whose work I've enjoyed for some time. I think of her when I think of laser cut white acrylic hands dangling from ears and wrists, or laser-cut nude women tumbling joyfully.

Liz Lau, not pictured in the Grocery Store. Image supplied.

Liz Lau is the 50th in my series of creatives to take five questions.

When my creative process is stuck, I reach for... my couch. I probably need to lay down and take a break from a project if I get stuck. Sometimes this means abandoning the idea totally or the space apart triggers an idea that gets the process rolling again. I used to try and push through but that usually ended in me being frustrated and tired with no progress but now I know better.

The weirdest thing about being a creative human is... the weird experiences you end up collecting. I’m a curious person that will usually say yes to any shenanigan. I’ll catch myself thinking how’d I end up here (insert random place) doing this (insert weird project) on a Tuesday afternoon. Nothing is dull for long!

The most unusual object in my house is... a cup with three tiny springs on the base. It is never stable and just bops around. I purchased it at a ceramic artist market in Jingdezhen. The artist’s stall was filled with beautifully made delicate cups that just gently wobbled. It was so unnerving, I had to take one home.

I celebrate my achievements by... having a good feed! I find so much joy in eating and sharing meals, so any time I have a win, I immediately want to go and fill my stomach.

Something in the world that already exists that I wish I had created is... probably most of what my friends create. I’m surrounded by really talented people that are creating incredible things that I am constantly amazed by. Seeing other people making art and sharing it is always a good time!

Find out more about Liz Lau on her website and follow her on Instagram. See Liz's work, along that of about 20 other artists, at The Grocery Store, at 124 Chapel Street Marrickville daily from 10am-4pm until 15 March 2026.