Blue Mountains Aboriginal Culture
and Resource Centre
The Blue Mountains Aboriginal Cultural & Resource Centre proudly promotes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists living in and who have connection to the Blue Mountains.
If you would like us to showcase your work on our website, please contact us via admin@acrc.org.au.
The Arts provide an opportunity to celebrate and strengthen Indigenous Identity, Cultural Practices and significant Stories.
Local Artists
Angie Jackson
Angie is a Ngunnawal woman who resides and works on the beautiful lands of the Darug and Gundungurra people. She is an early childhood teacher, completing a Master of Indigenous Education who is passionate about inclusion and equity for all children. In 2019 Snug as a bub was created;
‘After my third child was diagnosed with a medical illness, I was inspired to create Snug as a bub, sewing bibs for special bubs with medical needs. This has expanded into creating a range of pieces. I donate funds from every item sold to Paediatric Brain Tumor research, so when you buy my items, you are supporting amazing kids’.
​
Brett Groves
Brett was born on Wiradjuri country in Parkes District Hospital in 1974. Parkes is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. Brett moved to Gadigal land, Sydney at a young age where he spent most of his young adult life. He returned to Dharug land, the Blue Mountains where he purchased his first home. Bilingarra began at Leura - Dharug & Gundungurra country and is now located Bowenfels - Wiradjuri Country.
My connection to culture began when I started painting. I’m loving learning more about the brilliance behind our thousands of years of culture, through my art as I go along this journey.” I am very proud to be Indigenous and even more proud to be part of the new narrative for Indigenous Australia.
https://bilingarra.com.au/pages/brett-groves-gallery
Dianne Ussher
Dianne Ussher is an Award winning multi-disciplined Dharug Artist.
She is a published author, works with acrylics and oils, hand pants and creates wearable art on textiles. Her work is inspired by her ancestral guidance, culture, community and first nation social issues.
​
Commissions welcome.
Facebook - Ussher Art and Textiles
Instagram - @Ussherarts
Elly Chatfield
Elly is a renowned artist, actor, poet, mentor and much‑loved and respected elder of the Blue Mountains Aboriginal community. She is a proud Gamillaroi woman, single mother of two, and a devoted grandmother. A child of the Stolen Generation, Elly's life and resilience is an inspiration. She is a skilled educator and environmentalist. Her art is inspired by her connection to land and sense of belonging. As an actor, she has appeared in feature films such as Australia and more recently starred in Smoke Between Trees. Elly is a mentor of First Nations people of all ages. She is a cultural adviser and supports numerous young people and community organisations. She is humble and strong. She is gentle and supportive.
Erin Fry
Wiradjuri born, living in Blackheath, Blue Mountains, Erin’s art is influenced by both her connection being Wiradjuri country from her Mothers side and Celtic being the fathers side. Erin’s work is sold at Bilingarra Gallery located in Bowenfels:
www.bilingarra.com.au
​
​
​
Jayde Field
I am Dhuwi Gali (Water Spirit), of the Mari Gabi Clan, of Kaputhin Moiety of the Gamilaaraay Nation, My Skin Yibadaah.
I also hold bloodlines to the Wiradjuri and Biripi nations.
This Seahorse dreaming is depiction of balanced energy and intertwining bloodlines. The style of lines similar to thatching and the symbols used to detail the neck of the seahorse is a symbol used by My people. This artwork was created using styles from all nations I belong to and holds small details of the areas from the countries where my blood line runs.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maayali_designs/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
Karen Maber
Karen Maber is a proud descendant of the Darug and Dharawal Costal peples of Sydney. She was born and raised along the waterways in Sydneys south and currently belongs to the Blue Mountains community (Darug and Gundungurra lands), west of Sydney with her husband and twin sons.
​
Karen's artwork explores the relationships between people, place, emotions and spirituality. Her passion for art and the creative process is to celebrate her unique and proud connections to her culture and encourage personal and collective journeys of healing.
https://www.karenmaber.com.au/ - link to karens web page
Kelsie King
Growing up in the Blue Mountains, Kelsie is a local Gundungurra Artist. Kelsie's family connections are through Gedumba and Burragorang clans as well as Garguree the Gully where her grandmother, Aunty Mary King, was born. In 2009, Aunty Elly Chatfield began teaching Kelsie how to paint through the medium of acrylic paints. Currently, Kelsie still utilises acrylics to paint and has expanded her skills into weaving with local plants and raffia. Drawing inspiration from Culture and nature, Kelsie's art incorporates a modern flare to traditional Indigenous art.
Leanne Tobin
Leanne Tobin is a multidisciplinary artist of Irish, English and Aboriginal heritage descending from the Buruberong and Wumali clans of the Dharug, the traditional Aboriginal people of the Greater Sydney region.
Leanne works collaboratively with community groups, local schools and institutions using her art to tell local stories and to evoke an environmental conscience and respect towards the land and its original people.
​
​
​
Lex Dadd
Lexodious K.P Dadd is a proud Senior Darug man from the Cannemegal clan of the Sydney area. Lex uses his artwork to promote the importance of looking after country (Mother Earth) and our responsibility to look after her. His exhibition at our Blue Mountains Cultural Centre highlighted his traditional tool making and bush craft. He can provide Smoking Ceremony, Welcome to Country, Art Workshops with adults and school groups, demonstrating continuation of culture and inclusivity through his presentations and artwork.
An intriguing storyteller, Lexodious uses his traditional tools and bush craft to re-create the past and the dream time. Through this medium he can convey his message of how to be humble, respectful and responsible.
Trish O'Bryan
Trish O'Bryan is a proud Gamilaroi Woman from Coonabarrabran and Moree. Trish's artwork expresses both traditional and modernised Indigenous design. Channeling her ancestors and Great Grandmother Mary Jane Cain who created a historical story to be carried out throughout her upcoming family tree. Trish creates Aboriginal designed artwork for everyone to experience and acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land, through her business 'Bawa Designs'. Bawa being a Gamilaroi word for Sister, expressing the connection to all other Indigenous Brothers and Sisters who are wanting to create art as a way of telling stories and expression.
​
Follow her for more - Instagram: Bawa.Designs
​
Venessa Possum
Venessa Possum is a Dharug women from Bararagl - Murringong, southwest Sydney basin. Her Ngurra (Country) is an area of waterholes connecting the Nepean and Georges Rivers.
Venessa is a cultural consultant for galleries and public art projects. Her curatorial projects include yarning circles for traditional possum cloak making. Her personal practice of site-specific art projects includes a dynamic use of material cultures for installations, combining sculpture, painting, drawing, collage, rubbings, printing, documentary photography and video.
Her website https://www.venessapossum.com/