Emma Cocker

Emma Cocker is an Associate Professor in Fine Art at the Nottingham School of Art & Design, Nottingham Trent University. She co-leads the Performing Process research thematic within the Artistic Research Centre and mentors colleagues in Fine Art. Her teaching focuses on doctoral supervision and co-leading the DREAM research seminar. She also leads an MFA seminar on language-based practices in art.

Educated with a BA in Fine Art (University of Plymouth), MA in Visual Culture (University of Nottingham), and MRes in Contemporary Art History (Goldsmiths), she integrates yoga-inspired embodiment practices into her research and teaching. Her research explores artistic process, embodied thinking, and language-based practices, with publications including The Yes of the No and contributions to journals like Journal of Artistic Research.

Her recent work includes Being in the Midst: Performing Thinking in Action, examining decision-making and uncertainty in artistic processes. Collaborations span international projects like Choreo-graphic Figures and Weaving Codes—Coding Weaves. She serves on editorial boards for journals such as Journal of Phenomenology and Practice.

Her publications span experimental writing, performance lectures, and edited volumes, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with art, philosophy, and critical theory.