Jemma Bortz, known as Little Jems, is an up and coming artist living in Johannesburg, South Africa. Passionate about the arts, Jemma incorporates as much creativity into her daily existence as possible.
In 2016, she founded the collective “First Pancake Club” teaching people to express their creativity and authenticity through drawing and journaling.
Her background in animation and illustration lends to her sometimes character-focused style and vast imagination. She works with acrylics, oils, inks, charcoal, words, digital media - and more.
Jemma is inspired by the ocean, the dream and unseen world, martial arts, and the human spirit and body. Her work has been shown in galleries around Johannesburg and during a residency on an international cruise ship in 2020. Connecting with others through her work’s vulnerability and authenticity is her focus.
