About
Arabella Walker is from a maternal line of Wulli Wulli, Auburn Hawkwood people. She is an emerging female contemporary Aboriginal artist. Walker's practice conveys significant topics of First Nations histories with a focus on the challenge of being an Aboriginal woman living in the Colony. Walker deals with this challenge by weaving Indigenous ways of knowing and being into knowledges of culture and protocols, connections, and traditions, through a variety of media. The body is activated to express ideas, cultural knowledge, histories, stories and cultural connections. Media, such as acrylic paints, video projections, and installations form an interdisciplinary dialogue. Walkers creative process communicates a cultural intent in ways that words can’t.
Emerging from a dance background, Walker incorporates multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary practices. Walker acheves this by using explosions of colour and energetic mark making that wash over her. Dance is used to connect traditions of ritual and ceremony as a form of contemporary expression. Analysis of research methodologies and data collection extend and strengthen Walker’s creative art practice in all its forms. Walker seeks research connected to personal history; further development of creative self; community connection; academia; and First Nations culture.
Walker has a range of experiences as a First Nation Artist. She has undertaken numerous residencies as well as solo and collaborative exhibitions. Walker’s artistic ability and experience includes dance, visual art, digital art and performance.
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2023 Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, Australia
2019 Diploma of Musical Theatre, RAW Dance
2018 Cert III in Dance, RAW Dance
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2022 - present Queensland Gallery of Modern Art
2022 - present Queensland Art Gallery
2022 Queensland Ballet regional education team (touring)
2022 Queensland Ballet regional education choreographer
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2023 Jerenge, Queensland College of Art and Design
2023 Seasonal, Aboriginal Art Co, Brisbane
2023 Reconciliation Week, Queensland Conservatorium Of Music
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2023 Past, Present Future, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Cairns
2023 Beyond These Walls, Brisbane Street Art Festival
2023 Brisbane Street Art Festival
2022 St Vincent NAIDOC Exhibition
2022 Gallery Night, BlackDoc Arts
2022 Undergrowth, Queensland College of Art and Design, Grey St Gallery
2022 Brisbane Street Art Festival
2021 St Vincent NAIDOC Exhibition
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2023 MURRI Country; 98.9FM, Let’s Talk the Arts, radio interview.
2023 Aboriginal Art Co; Vault Gallery, 3-month residency
2023 Metro Arts; Matriarchs development 2 (collaborative with dance and digital art)
2023 Creating Futures National Education Summit; performative live art event
2023 Dana Waranara; Critical Response Process Program, Metro Arts
2022 Powerhouse; sponsored by BlakDance, Matriarchs Development 1
2022 Bleach Festival; public residency
2022 Rising Tide Artist Camp; South Stradbroke Island
2021 Digi Youth Arts; Instagram take over (at home project)
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2023 Academic Excellence; Griffith University, Queensland College of Art and Design
2023 Finalist, First People’s Heath Unit (FPHU) Art Prize, Griffith University