Wulli Wulli artist Arabella Walker opens her first solo exhibition as a represented artist, Gentle Shifts.
In seizing the opportunity to showcase her work as an independent exhibitor at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) in 2024, Wulli Wulli artist Arabella Walker’s career has taken a significant turn, celebrating a milestone this month with the opening of her first solo exhibition (as a represented artist), Gentle Shifts, at Jan Manton Gallery in Brisbane.
Ms Walker was part of a small group of independent artists securing a sought-after spot in CIAF’s innovative new CATAPULT program, providing coveted exhibition space and services within the event’s 2024 Country Speaking themed Art Fair Showcase at Cairns Convention Centre.
According to CIAF’s Exhibitions Manager, India Collins, CIAF serves as an excellent and transformative platform for Queensland’s First Nations artists. Over the past 15 years, it has propelled careers from Cairns to the global stage, along with an impressive list of institutional acquisitions too numerous to mention.
“We have some wonderful emerging and established artists here in Queensland that are not assigned with an art centre or gallery but deserve and desire the opportunity to show work in our state’s pinnacle showcase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. The CATAPULT program was introduced with those artists in mind and formed part of a more holistic professional development program. CATAPULT is as the name suggests, all about creating momentum and advancing the careers of Queensland’s First Nations artists.
“This month’s opening of Arabella Walker’s solo exhibition is the exact outcome we had in mind when we created the program – by being part of CIAF and CATAPULT, Arabella’s career has been taken to the next level,” Ms Collins said.
For Ms Walker, showing her work to collectors, curators, art lovers, and visitors to CIAF was a chance to elevate her art practice to a new and unprecedented level.
“Having a booth at CIAF 2024 was an extraordinary milestone in my artistic journey. It exposed my work to the industry, community, and the broader public. It was a privilege to be part of such a vibrant and culturally important event, where First Nations art was not only celebrated but also genuinely appreciated by collectors, industry professionals, and visitors from diverse backgrounds.
“One of the highlights was connecting with many talented First Nations artists, sharing stories, and learning from each other's experiences. Being part of an event that showcases the depth and diversity of Queensland’s First Nations art was inspiring and humbling. There’s something powerful about seeing our culture represented through art and its impact on those who engage with it.
“The day was packed with incredible conversations. I met fellow artists, art collectors, business owners, and members of the public who were genuinely interested in hearing about my creative process and the stories behind my work. I loved being able to represent my mob and Country, sharing not just my art but also the cultural knowledge and history embedded within it.
“CIAF 2024 was more than just an opportunity to showcase my work—it served as a reminder of the strength and resilience of First Nations artists and the importance of creating spaces where our voices and stories can be seen and heard. I’m grateful for the experience and look forward to what lies ahead on this journey,” said Ms Walker.
Artist Arabella Walker’s Gentle Shifts exhibition, Tuesday 11 to Sunday 30 March 2025 at Jan Manton Gallery, 54 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe, Brisbane.
Gentle Shifts is a vibrant exploration of the flora of Wulli Wulli Country and the landscapes that have shaped Arabella’s life. Each piece carries movement and story, brought to life through colours and patterns. The artworks flow together in a seamless dance, capturing the subtle transitions of nature and memory.
About Artist Arabella Walker
Arabella Walker comes from a maternal line of Wulli Wulli and Auburn Hawkwood people. She is an early-career contemporary Aboriginal artist. Walker’s practice conveys essential topics related to First Nations histories, concentrating on the challenges face by Aboriginal women living in the Colony. She addresses these challenges by weaving Indigenous ways of knowing and being into cultural knowledge, protocols, connections, and traditions through various media. The body expresses ideas, cultural understanding, histories, stories, and connections. Media such as acrylic paints, video projections, and installations create an interdisciplinary dialogue. Walker’s creative process conveys cultural intent in ways that words cannot.
With a background in dance, Walker incorporates multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary practices. She achieves this by using vibrant bursts of colour and energetic mark-making that envelop her. Dance connects traditional rituals and ceremonies to contemporary expression. Analysing research methodologies and data collection enhance and strengthen Walker’s creative art practice in all its forms. Walker seeks research linked to personal history, further creative identity development, community engagement, academia, and First Nations culture.
About CATAPULT
CATAPULT is an annual accelerator and showcase program run by the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF). It provides crucial pathways for independent Queensland First Nations artists.
This initiative provides professional development and exhibition opportunities, empowering artists without formal gallery representation or affiliation with Art Centres to further their careers and connect with the broader art community.
In 2024, the program included a professional development stream, with Matilda Nona as the inaugural recipient and a showcase group featuring Arabella Walker, Melissa Stannard, Joel Sam, Robert Tommy Pau, Cathy Snow, Libby Harward, Obery Sambo, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, and Tori-Jay Mordey, who exhibited at CIAF 2024.
CATAPULT artists returning in 2025 include Matilda Nona, Libby Harward, and Dylan Sarra, who previously exhibited as part of the CIAF Independent Artist Program before it was rebranded as CATAPULT. This time, Sarra will present new work in a double-booth display with Brisbane’s Mitchell Fine Art, marking the gallery's first-ever participation at CIAF.
Collectors, curators, and art professionals are invited to experience the pinnacle of Queensland’s First Nations art at the CIAF 2025’s Opening Night (4 pm, Thursday, 10 July 2025) at the Tanks Arts Centre in Gimuy/Cairns.
This exclusive preview, Pay Attention!, will showcase the biggest lineup of 30 exhibitors in CIAF's history. The evening features the concurrent opening of the Art Fair Showcase and Artisans Showcase (formerly Art Market), which will present over 28 Art Fair exhibitors, including art centres, commercial galleries, and independent artists in Tanks 3 and 4, and up to 50 artisans across two pavilions. This is an unparalleled opportunity to discover and acquire significant new works and to network with leading figures in the First Nations art scene.
Tickets for the CIAF 2025: Opening Night: Pay Attention! are on sale now at ciaf.com.
The Queensland Government supports CIAF’s CATAPULT program through Arts Queensland.