Brisbane Street Art Festival 2022 - First Nations Live Murals, Exhibitions, Panels and Workshops to Look Out For
BSAF "Within These Walls" exhibition. Photo credit: Samantha Townsend. Courtesy of Brisbane Street Art Festival, 2022.
The annual Brisbane Street Art Festival (BSAF) is back for two weeks from May 7 – May 22! Enjoy wandering around Brisbane City's streets with the family, discovering live murals and street art, visual arts exhibitions, creative workshops and panel discussions. This world class festival brings together some blossoming international artists and some of the nation's leading contemporary designers and artists, offering a diverse program of learning, creative development and collaboration (BSAF, 2022).
For more information about the free public festival and for workshop bookings click here.
As part of Brisbane City Council’s Indigenous Art Program, there will be a wide range of events showcasing up-and-coming and nationally recognised First Nations contemporary artists throughout the festival period.“The 2022 program acknowledges our unsung Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heroes, whose pride and dignity lift their community to their feet in a celebration of strength and determination” (Brisbane City Council, 2022).
So, we’ve compiled a list of the exhibitions, workshops, panels and events where you can experience First Nations art, culture and history below:
OUTstanding - Open Studio with Dylan Mooney and Tori-Jay Mordey and Outdoor Gallery Exhibition
Come and check out the “OUTstanding” Open Studio experience held through the Indigenous Art Program. The Open Studio will give patrons a behind-the-scenes look at the up-and-coming contemporary Indigenous artists’ creative spaces. Join the up-and-coming contemporary Indigenous artists Dylan Mooney and Tori-Jay Mordey for an intimate cuppa and a yarn as they show you around their studio spaces. This two hour session on Saturday 14 May 2022 will give guests the opportunity to see the artists’ work in action and learn about their inspiration, techniques, culture and stories.
Book tickets for the Open Studio here.
Since 2016, the Indigenous Art Program has celebrated and exhibited over 80 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to date. This year, the “OUTstanding” exhibition will feature 12 of Meanjin’s (Brisbane) emerging First Nations artists, whose works speak of reconciliation, truth-telling and their personal identity and connection to culture and Country.
From May 7th to August 7th 2022, you can explore the “OUTstanding” exhibition throughout Brisbane City Council’s Outdoor Gallery. This is an extension of the BSAF, with a focus on fine and digital art displayed in light boxes, vitrines and video projections, not public street art murals.
For more information and to book tickets, visit the Brisbane City Council website and search “Indigenous Art Program.”
Live Murals
Catch Indigenous artists painting their murals in real time around Brisbane city!
Hafleg
Shaun Lee is a contemporary artist and proud Larrakia, Wardaman and Karajarri cultural man born and raised in Darwin, Northern Territory. Shaun has been painting since he was a young boy, learning from his artistic family, especially his mother Danella Lee and sister Mim Cole (of Mimmim Designs). Going by his artist name “Hafleg,” Shaun specialises in murals and branding.
Check out his Instagram account @hafleg here.
Desirai Art
Meanjin (Brisbane) based illustration and digital artist Desirai Saunders will be painting a live mural from May 7 - 22, 2022. Through art, the proud Gungarri woman is able to express herself and incorporate her culture into her works. Desirai hopes that her works will empower those (especially Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women) who can see a small part of themselves reflecting back through her creations.
Desirai will also be appearing in a couple of panels and hosting the Digital Illustration Workshop on Tuesday 17th of May (6:30pm - 8pm). She will be teaching attendees how to step up their digital illustration game at Superordinary Northshore. This is a great class for those who already know how to draw on digital devices, and for illustrators wanting to learn more finer details.
Check out Desirai’s Instagram account @desirai.art here.
Rachael Sarra
Rachael Sarra is a proud Goreng Goreng woman, contemporary artist and independent business owner of Sar.ra. Through her brand Sar.ra, she brings together her passion for art, fashion and design. Rachael’s work combines contemporary and traditional Aboriginal painting styles in a range of vibrant, fun feminine colours. Her works explore her Aboriginality and often challenge society’s perception of what Indigenous art and identity is.
Check out her Instagram account @sar.ra__ here.
Minna Leunig
Wadawurrung / Geelong based contemporary artist Minna Leunig creates canvases, murals and screen prints depicting playful native Australian animals and landscapes from the dry sclerophyll forests of the Strathbogie ranges, to the tangled mangroves and thick rainforests of Cape York. Minna’s paintings speak of an appreciation for the natural world, and connect to her passion of advocating for environmental conservation. See Minna painting live in Brisbane City’s bustling Queen Street Mall on Saturday 14 May, 10am - 2pm.
Check out her Instagram account @minnaleunig here.
Tori-Jay Mordey
Tori-Jay Mordey is an established portrait artist, digital illustrator and muralist of Torres Strait Islander and English heritage. She often creates works about her family and her connection to her Torres Strait culture, as a way of understanding herself and her racial identity. Her illustrative work explores human emotions which she often draws in exaggerated cartoon form.
Check out her Instagram account @tori_jyeay here.
BSAF Festival Launch Party
Don’t miss out on BSAF’s Festival Launch Party at Superordinary Northshore this Saturday the 7th of May at 5pm. This repurposed industrial space will be the central hub for this year’s program and will host the “Within These Walls” and “House of Iris” exhibitions, in conjunction with the launch party. These exhibitions will run until the end of the festival on Sunday the 22nd May. You can grab tickets here.