Thea Anamara Perkins, Untitled (USS), 2022, acrylic on clayboard, 40.5 x 30.5cm. Courtesy the artist and N.Smith Gallery, Gadigal Country / Sydney.

“It’s about taking charge of representation – I find that painting is a very simple and direct way of communicating things that I want to say.” Thea Anamara Perkins is an Arrernte and Kalkadoon artist whose practice incorporates portraiture and landscape to depict authentic representations of First Nations peoples and Country. With a delicate hand, Thea answers heavy questions about what it means to be Indigenous in contemporary Australia, and how Aboriginal people can and should be portrayed.

Thea’s work has recently been acquired by The National Portrait Gallery, Canberra; and Museum and Gallery of Northern Territory, Darwin. Thea’s solo exhibition Stockwomen opens at Carriageworks in December 2022 as well.