Artworks are first available for purchase by sponsors and dignitaries before being available in person at the Exhibition in Brisbane. Unsold artworks can also be purchased online following the event.
"My artwork is inspired by my connections to my Aboriginal culture and the rivers of my Country, Wiradyuri.
The colours and movement of my artwork represent the colours and flow of the water as it makes its way across rocks, along the riverbanks and pools up creating isolated waterholes.
Being by the river is the place and environment that calms me and connects me to my culture and Country. When I can’t make it to the river, I paint the rivers."
Maria Watson-Trudgett's paintings express her connections to her Aboriginal culture, in contemporary expressions of now!
Maria describes herself as a proud Koori woman and ‘fresh water girl' of the Wiradyuri people. She is a storyteller and self-taught artist.
Painting quietens Maria's mind and supports her to connect with her Culture, Country and Ancestors. Painting creates a sense of belonging and strengthens her Aboriginal identity.
Maria paints stories of her Culture and the landscapes of her Country. For her, ‘Country’ is all things; it is a place of belonging and a way of life. Country incorporates rivers, creeks, waterholes, hills, valleys, plants, and animals. Country embraces the seasons, constellations of the sky, community obligations and family connections. These elements are reflected throughout some of Maria's artworks.
Follow Maria on Instagram, Facebook and visit her website.