Meet the Artists
Girringun's Artists are gaining international recognition for their unique artwork, rainforest origins, and culture spanning countless generations.
Alison Murray
GirramayMore InfoAlison Murray
GirramayAlison Murray is a Girramay Traditional Owner of the Murray Upper area, near Cardwell, North Queensland.
Alison is a skilled ceramicist with an outstanding portfolio. Her pottery work consists of both traditional and modern designs, including Bagu sculptures, vases, jewellery, Bigin bowls and three dimensional animals. Drawing from traditional stories, Alison’s strong connection to family, place and heritage is manifested in the work she produces. Her eye for detail, great understanding of composition, colour and pattern making is evident in her award winning pieces.
Alison’s artwork has been acquired by the Parliament House Art Collection, National Maritime Museum and National Gallery of Victoria. Alison was most notably awarded the inaugural Emerging Artist Award by the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. She was a finalist in the 2016 Shepparton Indigenous Ceramic Art Awards & Salon Des Refuses (Darwin). Alison has also created commissioned works for the Cairns Performing Art Centre.
Augustina Denham
More InfoAugustina Denham
Augustina is a young artist whose work shows signs of promise. She is a new artist working with a variety of mediums to discover the most suitable mediums and style for her work. She is a member of the very creative Denham family who work with the art centre.
Charlotte Beeron
GirramayMore InfoCharlotte Beeron
GirramayCharlotte Beeron is a Girramay Traditional Owner who lives in the Jumbun community, north of Cardwell in North Queensland. She works with sculptural forms and explores and references contemporary forms and imagery in the sculptural work she creates. Drawing on her cultural heritage she references the lives of her family, her children and her environment.
Charlotte’s work is included in a number of private collections and is represented in the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane. Most recently she was selected to create work for a permanent outdoor installation Bagu on the Foreshore in Cardwell as part of the Foreshore re-construction.
Cherie Mooner
DjiruMore InfoCherie Mooner
DjiruCherie Mooner is a Djiru Traditional Owner of the Mission Beach area. She lives at Mission Beach on her Traditional Land. Cherie is an emerging artist who has created a number of unique paintings depicting her traditional country and the animals that live within it. She first exhibited at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair in 2020, where she successfully sold out majority pieces in her collection. Since her first exhibition, Cherie has gained much attention from private and institutional collectors.
During March this year,Umbrella Studios in Townsville facilitated Cherie’s first ever solo exhibition, Gunduy Waymba-nyu(Cassowary Gone walk-about).
Christopher Kennedy
More InfoChristopher Kennedy
Chris Kennedy is a Girramay Traditional Owner fromMountGarnet inNorth Queensland.
Chris has a really strong connection to place and heritage and draws from traditional stories for his inspiration.
The “Murray Upper and Beyond” exhibition in 2009 at the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre in Cardwell was the first time Chris has exhibited his work. A painting has been selected for “Girringun” at GallerySmith inMelbournelater this month.
Coralie Cassady
More InfoCoralie Cassady
Daniel Beeron
GirramayMore InfoDaniel Beeron
GirramayDaniel (Galaman) Beeron is a Girramay Traditional Owner of the Murray Upper area, near Cardwell, North Queensland.
Daniel is an expert painter and weaver of Jawun cane baskets. He is also a gifted potter of Bagu and Bigin. Daniel first began working with ceramics in 2009. True to his roots, he draws from his cultural heritage – evident in his use of traditional symbols and designs. His paintings feature soulful feather strokes in assorted tones. His sculptures, some standing over six feet tall, captivates audiences. Above all, the practice of weaving is especially meaningful to Daniel. Forward thinking and adaptive, Daniel has also transferred his weaving skills over to unusual textiles, such as metal. He weaves for cultural continuum – to ensure that these precious methods survive throughout generations.
Daniel’s work is held in a number of collections. It was most recently acquired by the Australian Museum, Art Bank Collection and the University of Queensland Art Museum.
David Andy
DjiruMore InfoDavid Andy
DjiruDavid Andy is a Djiru traditional owner from the Mission Beach area. Passionate about art, David continues to produce carvings and traditional objects; a practice that has been passed down from his elders. While David likes to follow traditions, he has started created artwork with contemporary materials, and implementing other natural materials like shells and seeds, collected from the beach near his home. David creates small shields and swords consisting of natural materials; these objects reflect his strong connection to culture and country.
Davina Harries
More InfoDavina Harries
Daveena Harries is an Aboriginal woman. She is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community, North-West of Cardwell.
Daveena is a gifted ceramicist and first-rate painter. Sculpted and finished to perfection, her awe-inspiring Bagu works are full of energy and character. The colours of her Bagu mirror the versatile landscape of her traditional country. Her paintings, featuring geometric patterns in earthy tones are thought-provoking and enthralling. Some standing over a metre tall, they captivate in both design and scale.
Daveena’s art represents her individuality and her wealth of cultural knowledge. Deeply connected to her roots, Daveena also works with Echo Creek Tourism as both an office worker and a cultural tour guide.
Deborah Murray
JirrbalMore InfoDeborah Murray
JirrbalDeborah Murray is a Jirrbal woman of the Davidson Falls Area. She is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community of the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.
Deborah is an experienced painter and master traditional weaver of Mindi grass baskets and Jawun bi-cornual baskets. Featuring in multiple shapes and sizes, each individual basket is delicate and shaped with precision. Deborah was taught to weave by her Mother, Desley Henry, a widely recognised and esteemed Jawun weaver. These traditional processes and skills have been passed on to each generation, preserving important family and cultural knowledge.
As a painter, her strikingly distinct style typically features land and sea animals and block colours. Deborah and Desley’s work has been featured both within Australia and Internationally. In 2019, Deborah received acclaim as the recipient of The Cairns Airport Innovation Award (Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, CIAF). She has also received the Highly Commended, Group Installation, 4th Hinchinbrook Birdlife Art Award (Tyto Regional Gallery).
Debra Murray
GirramayMore InfoDebra Murray
GirramayDebra Murray is a Girramay woman. She is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community of the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.
Specialising in ceramics, Debra’s portfolio consists of Bigin bowls, pots and Bagu sculptures. All one of a kind pieces, Debra’s work is intricate and eye-catching. Debra is also a talented painter and printmaker. She is noted for her use of form, varied designs and penchant for a traditional colour palette.
Debra showcases her strong connection to country and tradition through her lively works. Recognised for her talents, she has been a notable recipient of The Strand of Emphemera (Townsville Artistic Excellence Award).
Eileen Tep (deceased)
JirrbalMore InfoEileen Tep (deceased)
JirrbalEileen Tep is a Jirrbal woman of the Davidson Road area. She is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community of the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.
Eileen is a skilled weaver of Mindi, Gundula and Jawun bicornual baskets. She is also an emerging painter and ceramicist. Eileen learnt her weaving skills from her Mother. When creating baskets, Eileen collects lawyer cane from the rainforest at the Jumbun community, removes the spiky outer ‘skin’ of the cane and prepares the cane from splitting by passing it through the fire. The cane is then finely split and woven into the necessary shape with great accuracy.
Eileen’s work is inspired by traditions and the environment of her rainforest ancestors. An award winning artist, Eileen has received The Cairns Airport Innovation Award (Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, CIAF 2019) and The Strand of Ephemera, (Townsville Artistic Excellence Award), amongst others.
Emily Murray
GirramayMore InfoEmily Murray
GirramayEmily Nigandy Murray is a Girramay and Jirrbal Traditional Owner of the Davidson Creek area. She is based in the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.
Emily works across a number of mediums including weaving, painting and ceramics. As an expert weaver of traditional Mindi baskets, Emily has been a tutor and demonstrator of weaving practises at schools, exhibitions and art centres across Eastern Australia. Emily has a very strong connection to place and heritage. Her art draws from traditional stories, calendar events, plants, animals and her homelands.
Her work is represented in a number of private and institutional collections in Australia. This includes the Queensland Art Gallery, British Museum, Lady Cilento Mater Children’s Hospital and National Museum of Australia. She has been included in major sculptural installations for the Museum of Oceanography Monaco 2015 (6 months), Cairns Performing Arts Centre 2018 (permanent) and The Townsville Strand Ephemera 2012.
Erica Muriata
More InfoErica Muriata
Erica Muriata is a proud Girramay woman from the Jumbun Aboriginal Community, located in the Murray Upper region, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland. As an emerging artist, Erica’s work is deeply rooted in her cultural heritage, drawing inspiration from the landscape, traditions, and stories of her ancestors. Her art reflects a strong connection to the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, where she continues to honor and celebrate her community’s artistic practices.
Erica’s artistic practice spans multiple mediums, including painting, ceramics, and weaving. She is known for her ability to capture the essence of the natural world through landscape scenes rendered in warm, earthy tones. These works evoke a sense of place, grounding viewers in the beauty and complexity of the environment she calls home. In addition to her paintings, Erica creates distinctive Bagu sculptures in clay, each piece uniquely expressing her connection to her culture and the land.
In recent years, Erica has gained recognition for her exquisite weaving skills, with her work in this area becoming highly regarded within the community and beyond. She is also becoming renowned for her craftsmanship in creating the Jawun—traditional woven baskets of the rainforest people —demonstrating an intricate knowledge of materials and techniques passed down through generations. Her mastery in weaving reflects both her personal connection to cultural traditions and her ability to adapt and innovate within them.
Erica’s art is not just a personal expression, but also a vehicle for preserving and passing on the stories of her ancestors. As the current keeper of these stories, she carries the responsibility of maintaining and sharing the cultural knowledge and traditions of her people. Raised by her parents—her father Jack Muriata, a respected Elder and community leader, and her mother Lillian Muriata, an accomplished painter—Erica inherited a rich legacy of storytelling and artistic expression. Through her work, she continues this tradition, ensuring that the stories of the Girramay people are kept alive for future generations.
Erica Muriata’s art is a powerful and evocative celebration of her heritage, her family’s history, and the land that shapes her worldview. Through her diverse range of works, she invites others to explore and share in the rich cultural narrative of the Girramay people.
Ethel Murray
GirramayMore InfoEthel Murray
GirramayEthel Murray is a Girramay woman, based in Cardwell, North Queensland.
She is an award winning painter and ceramicist, creating one of a kind Bigin bowls and Bagu sculptures. As a contemporary artist, Ethel’s work is bright, fresh and reflects her vibrant environment. Despite her modern style, Ethel pays homage to her roots, often opting for a traditional colour palette. With a love for Native wildlife, Ethel’s work frequently features birds and other animals – becoming her trademark style. Her work showcases her immense talent and exquisite eye for design.
Ethel has honourably received The Cairns Airport Innovation Award (Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, CIAF 2019) and The Strand of Ephemera (Townsville Artistic Excellence Award).
Grace Reid
More InfoGrace Reid
Grace Reid is a Jirrbal woman of the Davidson area, Grace is a skilled weaver and maker of traditional objects, in particular the Bagu with Jiman (fire maker). Her immersion in traditional culture from childhood has meant that she has a wonderful sense of shape and form which has extended into the creation of more contemporary objects in recent years. Grace is an emerging sculptor and ceramicist. Her work is inspired by and has its origins in the traditions and environment of her rainforest Aboriginal ancestors.
John Murray
GirramayMore InfoJohn Murray
GirramayJohn Murray is a Girramay man. He is based in the Murray Upper region, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.
John is an accomplished Bagu and Bigin Bowl ceramicist. He is also a fine painter, first picking up his paintbrush in 2008. He uses art as a creative outlet of expression and communication; connecting with others beyond his disabilities. His gift for colour transforms traditional and personal stories with energy and vitality. John’s work reflects the pleasure he takes in fishing, camping and sports. It provides a glimpse of life in the rainforest.
His first solo show, John’s Stories, was featured at the Kick Arts Contemporary Art Centre, coinciding with the 2010 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. The show toured Queensland in 2012 and 2014. John’s work has been featured in private and institutional collections, including the State Library of Queensland, Queensland Art Gallery and Arts Queensland.
Jonas Murray
More InfoJonas Murray
Josie Barrett
Warrgamay / GirramayMore InfoJosie Barrett
Warrgamay / GirramayJosie Barrett is a Warrgamay/ Girramay woman. She is based in Ingham, South of Cardwell.
Josie is an expert painter. Her paintings, full of life and detail, often depict breathtaking landscape scenes and native wildlife. Also a talented weaver, Josie’s weaving skills extend from traditional cane through to atypical materials, such as beads and wire. Her intricate handiwork is as eye catching as it is interesting, with each piece completely one of a kind.
An artist for many years, Josie joined the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre in 2016. She has a strong passion for culture and expresses this through her medium. Connection to country, family and traditional customs are all strong themes in her work. An award winning artist, Josie has received the Highly Commended, Group Installation, Dundu, 4th Hinchinbrook Birdlife Art Award (Tyto Gallery Ingham) for her standout pieces.
Judith Henry
More InfoJudith Henry
Judith Henry is a Jirrbal Traditional Owner of the Davidson Creek area. She is based in Tully, Queensland.
Judith is a renowned ceramicist and maker of traditional objects such as Bagu, Jiman, Boomerangs and weavings. Her life-sized Bagu sculptures have become some of the Art Centre’s most iconic pieces. Judith’s common use of warm browns alongside black and white shades is present throughout her portfolio, making her work instantly recognisable.
Judith is a language speaker and holder of important cultural knowledge. This was proudly passed on to her by her Mother, Ida Henry. Since producing traditional objects for many years, Judith’s work has been acquired by countless collectors over that time.
Kayla Henry
More InfoKayla Henry
Kayla Henry is a Jirrbal woman, based in Tully, North Queensland.
An emerging, yet skilled Traditional artist, Kayla has honed her craft as a painter since she was a child. Her intricate designs, featuring clean and precise lines, showcase these talents. Kayla’s paintings often include an array of native land and sea animals.
She follows in the footsteps of her Mother, Desley Henry, a well known basket weaver and painter. Kayla’s work is represented in a number of private collections and various exhibitions, including the recent Blak Roots at the Centre of Contemporary Art (Cairns).
Leonard Andy
DjiruMore InfoLeonard Andy
DjiruLeonard Andy is a Djiru Traditional Owner of the Mission Beach area. He lives at Mission Beach on his traditional land and creates a number of unique art pieces including paintings, artefacts and batiks. His attention to detail is evident in the intricate designs painted on his carved wooden swords, boomerangs, spear throwers and canvases. His creativity goes back to his high school days where, “my school books were filled with drawings instead of work.”
Leonard is heavily involved in local conservation groups and has a particular interest in the urbanisation and subsequent loss of natural habitat of the Mission Beach area, in particular the impact on Gunduy, the cassowary. This concern is reflected in his art. He has an interest in the plight of native plant and animal species in the Mission Beach area and is an active participant in raising awareness through groups such as C4 (committee member), Mission Beach Habitat Plan (committee member) and the Garners Beach Cassowary Recovery Community Consultative Committee. He won the 2009 Wet Tropics Management Authority Cassowary Rainforest Aboriginal Culture Award for his services to the community
Leonard has exhibited his artworks and paintings in numerous exhibitions and his artwork has been purchased by private and institutional collections. He has also contributed artwork to a number of publications including magazines for the North Queensland Land Council and The Wet Tropics Management Authority. His artworks also feature on interpretative signage at the Hull River Settlement Memorial at South Mission Beach and as part of the Ulysses Trail Heritage Trails Project at Mission Beach.
Leonard has worked as a cultural tutor for Aboriginal culture at the Clump Mountain Co-operative since 1992 and provides cultural advice. He is regularly invited to undertake Traditional Welcomes in his traditional country, Djiru.
Maggie Thaiday
More InfoMaggie Thaiday
Marley Beeron
More InfoMarley Beeron
Maureen Beeron
GirramayMore InfoMaureen Beeron
GirramayMaureen Beeron is a Girramay woman of the Murray River area. She is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community, North-west of Cardwell.
Maureen is a master weaver of Wungarr eel traps, Jawun baskets and is skilled in traditional Bark String making. Maureen is also a painter who expresses her knowledge and cultural experiences through her artwork. The traditional baskets and other objects she makes are a common theme in her paintings.
When creating Jawun, Maureen collects the lawyer cane from the rainforest, removes the spiky outer ‘skin’ of the cane and prepares it from splitting by passing it through the fire. It is then finely woven into the bi-cornual shape. Some of her notable past works include a large and extra large Jawun made for carrying babies. A similar process is used to create Wungarr. These weaving skills have been passed on to Maureen by her cousin-sister. Since 2004, Maureen’s eel traps have been exhibited in numerous exhibitions both regionally and Nationally. Her eel traps have also been acquired by private collectors within Australia.
Nancy Beeron
Girramay / JirrbalMore InfoNancy Beeron
Girramay / JirrbalNancy Beeron is a Jirrbal/Girramay woman. She is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community of the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland
Nancy is a painter, potter and esteemed weaver of the Jawun bi-cornual basket. In a lengthy and methodical process, she collects lawyer cane from her traditional Rainforest country, splits the cane into fine strips and intricately weaves her one-off designs. A multi-faceted artist; Nancy’s paint work is contrasting and engaging. Her ceramics are also rich, unique and exceptionally detailed.
Nancy’s work has featured in the Story Place: Indigenous Art of Cape York & the Rainforest and the Woven Forms: Weavings from the Jumbun, Lockhart River and Aurukun Communities exhibitions. Permanent collections, galleries and museums throughout Australia have purchased Nancy’s pieces. Her Jawun are also on permanent display at the Cairns Convention Centre.
Nancy Cowan
Warrgamay / WarungnuMore InfoNancy Cowan
Warrgamay / WarungnuNancy Cowan is a Warrgamay/ Warungnu woman. She is based in the township of Kennedy, outside of Cardwell.
A talented and accomplished painter and ceramicist, Nancy’s portfolio includes large scale acrylic paintings, Bagu sculptures, Bigin bowls, pots and more. Nancy’s work often features wildlife amongst landscape scenes. Her eye for detail and multi-dimensional colour palette choices bring each individual object to life.
First premiering at the Murray Upper and Beyond exhibit at the Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre in 2009, Nancy’s work has since featured in various exhibitions Nationally. Her ceramic work – as part of an artwork installation – was selected as a finalist in the 27th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards in 2009. Multiple public and private collections have acquired Nancy’s distinctive pieces.
Nephi Denham
More InfoNephi Denham
Nephi Denham is a Girramay Traditional Owner of the North Murray Area, outside of Cardwell, Queensland. He is based in Tully, Queensland.
A master craftsman, Nephi’s collection includes woven Mindi baskets, Bagu sculptures and paintings. He is renowned for his wonderful grasp of form and precise lines. An assisting artist on the Chainsaw Gunduy Sculpture in 2014, Nephi maintains a focused interest in sculptural formats. Drawing from his rich cultural heritage, Nephi’s art reflects his family’s stories and the environment in which he grew up in. Nephi is also a speaker of his traditional Girramay language.
Nephi’s work is included in a number of private and public collections. He has been the recipient of the The Cairns Airport Innovation Award (Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, CIAF 2019) and The Strand of Ephemera (Townsville Artistic Excellence Award).
Ninney Murray
Jirrbal / GirramayMore InfoNinney Murray
Jirrbal / GirramayNinney Murray is a Jirrbal/ Girramay woman. She is based in the Jumbun Aboriginal Community of the Murray Upper area, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.
A multidisciplinary artist with a broad portfolio, Ninney is an accomplished painter, ceramicist and expert weaver. Taught by her Aunty, Ninney frequently weaves Jawun, Burrajingal, Gundala and Mindi baskets. She is one of few to still construct Wungarr, known as traditional eel traps.
Ninney shares her rich cultural knowledge through the workshops in which she facilitates. Her paintings capture the story of her elders. Her Bagu sculptures are full of personality and life. Ninney’s art is a visual expression of her connection to home and family. Multiple private and institutional collections, including the Queensland Art Gallery, have acquired Ninney’s work.
Philip Denham
Girramay / JirrbalMore InfoPhilip Denham
Girramay / JirrbalPhilip Denham is a Girramay man. He is based in the Murray Upper region, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.
Philip creates work that reflects his cultural ties to country. He is known for his exquisite, earthy-toned Bigin shields, Bagu sculptures, Birrbu-birrbu cross boomerangs and paintings. Philip’s paintings, featuring weather patterns, landscapes and animals – are bold and compelling.
Philip is an outstanding creator of traditional tools, with extensive knowledge of the environment and its resources. He is also a Girramay native language speaker. This knowledge was passed on by his parents, Andy and Daisy Denham, respected elders of the area. A now award winning artist, Philip has received The Cairns Airport Innovation Award (Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre, CIAF 2019) and the IACA Lucille Osborne Emerging Artist Award, presented at the Kick Arts Gallery Cairns.
Phylicia Murray
More InfoPhylicia Murray
Sally Murray (deceased)
GirramayMore InfoSally Murray (deceased)
Girramay***Warning, this sale mentions an esteemed artist now deceased.
S.Murray (Dec) was a Jirrbal woman of the Davidson Creek area. She lived at the Jumbun Community at Murray Upper and was a skilled weaver of the traditional Gundala basket, a coil basket made with a split lawyer cane, and the traditional small grass mindi basket.
Sadly, S. Murray passed away in 2020. This Bagu represents a very special collectable from S. Murray as no further work was produced.
S. Murray was also an emerging painter and potter. She drew on her feeling for the landscape to visually express the environment and stories of her cultural heritage.
S. Murray passed on her traditional knowledge to the children and other members of the community through weaving workshops and field trips. Her work is included in a number of major institutional collections including Queensland Art Gallery and University of Queensland Art Museum.
Her final large scaled work was included in a sculptural installation commission for the Cairns Performing Arts Centre.
Serena Woodleigh
More InfoSerena Woodleigh
Theresa Beeron
Jirrbal / GirramayMore InfoTheresa Beeron
Jirrbal / GirramayTheresa Beeron is a Jirrbal/ Girramay Traditional Owner. She is based in Murray Upper, North-West of Cardwell, Queensland.
Theresa is an accomplished painter, potter and weaver. As a child, Theresa was taught to weave by her Mother. She specialises in finely crafted Mindi, Burrajingal and Jawun traditional baskets. These unique baskets are woven meticulously with special rainforest and river grasses.
Theresa’s striking pieces mirror the environment in which she lives. Her art speaks to audiences, telling both her personal story and the story of her ancestors. Theresa’s artwork has been acquired by private collections and institutions such as Sydney’s Art Bank and the Queensland Art Gallery. She regularly facilitates workshops, provides cultural advice and continues to pass on her weaving skills to younger generations.
Tonya Grant
More InfoTonya Grant
Tonya Grant is a Jirrbal woman. She is based in the Davidson Falls area, North of Cardwell.
Tonya is a remarkable painter and expert weaver of Jawun. Woven with lawyer cane, this traditional bi-cornual basket is unique to the rainforest people. With an almost innate ability, she has perfected her craft from an early age. This was done so under the teachings of her Mother, Desley Henry, a well known and respected weaver. Tonya’s inspiration draws from traditional colours, patterns and design, particularly the cyclone motif associated with her naming place.
Tonya and Desley Henry’s work can be found throughout a number of private and institutional collections, both Nationally and Internationally. This includes the Art Gallery of South Australia, Queensland Art Gallery, Cairns Regional Gallery and the Parliament House Art Collection (Canberra). Tonya’s designs have also been used to promote the Echo Creek Cultural Centre, where she works as a tour guide, demonstrator and tutor of cultural practices.
Trisha Beeron
GirramayMore InfoTrisha Beeron
GirramayTrish Beeron is a woman of the Murray River area. She lives at the Jumbun Community near Murray Falls, north-west of Cardwell and is an emerging artist who enjoys drawing, painting, weaving, wood work and ceramics.
Trish’s mother and grandmother are both accomplished artists and have handed down their traditional knowledge and skills to h
Venetta Denham
GirramayMore InfoVenetta Denham
GirramayVenetta Denham is a Girramay woman living in the Murray Upper region, north-west of Cardwell with her 3 children.
Ventta joined the Art Centre in 2022, where she began weaving the traditional Gundala; A practice picked up by watching her grandmother Daisy Denham, who was a traditional weaver and basket maker during her time. At the age of 26, Venetta delved deeper into the art of weaving by turning to her Aunt, Eileen Tep. However, It was her, Elders, Aunt Nancy Beeron and Theresa Beeron that sparked her interest in weaving particularly, the traditional basket, “Gundala”.
Since 2022, Venetta has showcased at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) and Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) for the past 2 years; the National Indigenous Art Fair (NIAF) in 2023 and the Tarnanthi Art Fair 2023. Just recently, Venetta had her first ever solo exhibition, “Indumni Creations” held at Umbrella Studios, Townsville in February 2024.
As an emerging artist, Venetta’s artworks shows signs of promise. She also practices as a painter and ceramicist, portraying stories from her traditional country, and illustrated in tribal designs and motifs.