Warranggal Dhawun "Strong Ground" - Men's Polos

I am Leah. I am an Aboriginal woman born in Canberra, ACT. My mob are Kamilaroi from my Grandmothers country in the Gunnedah region. I am a self-taught Contemporary Aboriginal Artist and began painting at a very young age. I have been painting in a professional capacity for over 7 years.

"Art is such an important platform to share my culture with the wider community. My art is like a 'visual yarn', people really connect with the stories and meaning behind the work".

A great deal of my artistic vision and inspiration comes from the changing landscapes in my home town, on country and from my journeys to ocean country and beyond. I use layers of fine dotting, line work, colour gradients, Aboriginal symbolism and my signature style of 'cracked earth' landscape throughout my paintings. Kamilaroi country is often dry and cracked, but rich and deep in history, culture and story as represented by the space in between the cracked earth. I pay great attention to detail, natural patterns, light, shade and texture in the landscape.

My paintings often work between two perspectives; landscape and birds-eye view. Through a birds-eye view, I generally map the journeys in which I take, along with my ancestral and cultural ties. As I learn more about my culture and discover my ancestors’ footprints in the landscape, I feel the urge to paint my story, my sense of place.