Board Members – Aboriginal Art Association of Australia
Geoff Henderson grew up in country Queensland and is no stranger to interacting with Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Following a career as the Chief Financial Officer for a global fast-moving consumer goods company, Geoff fell out of love with the corporate world and developed a deep love of Aboriginal art which soon became an all-consuming passion.
In 2008, Geoff established a dedicated art space in Alice Springs for artists to have a creative and safe space to work from. After starting a small gallery in Alice Springs on 2010, he acquired Kate Owen Gallery in 2013. Working directly with many independent and successful artists in his studio has afforded Geoff clear insights into what is truly important to artists including their hopes, dreams, struggles and challenges. Geoff’s vertically integrated business provides the perfect foundation for appreciating the artist, dealer, art centre and gallerist perspectives on many issues.
Geoff joined the Aboriginal Art Association and Board in 2009. Following a one-year sabbatical in 2017/18 to concentrate on his gallery and art studio, Geoff returns with a renewed drive for his role as President and is committed to the goals of the Association. He says: “We respect the different models for bringing art to the market and our diverse membership base demonstrates the possibility for all sectors to work together for the greater good of the industry. The Association’s focus continues to be the right of choice for artists, understanding the needs of the consumer and the building of a vibrant, fair, sustainable and equitable environment in which artists and the industry as a whole can thrive”.
Sylvie is the Arts Manager and Director for OzAboriginal Pty Ltd with over 30 years of experience in the visual arts industry. Sylvie’s work has given her a deep understanding of the challenges and struggles facing emerging artists, particularly for independent Indigenous artists.
Sylvie’s vast range of expertise includes arts management, business administration, licensing, intellectual property, cross-cultural projects, supply chain management and consumer behaviour. Sylvie through her Gallery, OzAboriginal, has strong and trusting relationships with art centres and independent artists. Her knowledge and counsel are sought regularly by Indigenous artists, art centres, corporate institutions and educational organisations.
Sylvie holds a Master of Arts Management, Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Education. As well as being the Vice President of the AAAA, she is a member of the Indigenous Art Code, NSW Business Chamber and Arts Management Association. Sylvie joined the Aboriginal Art Association as a member in 2011 and has been an Executive Board Member and Secretary since 2012.
Sylvie is committed to building an equitable model that caters to every sector of the Aboriginal art industry, the development of ethical and user-friendly systems for gallerists and industry-wide best practice. She is a strong advocate for members having a voice and inclusion on industry-wide issues that can impact their ability to earn a sustainable living from their art.
Brenda is an art valuer and advisor. Brenda spent her early career working for leading international auctioneers and fine art galleries in specialist, management and advisory roles. In 1998, she founded Brenda Colahan Fine Art (BCFA) successfully offering comprehensive art advisory, independent art valuation and art gallery services; including art procurement, collection management and resale. Her Putney based gallery showcases a variety of artworks by leading Australian and Indigenous artists.
Brenda is an ACAA Registered Valuer as well as an Approved Valuer for the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program specialising in Australian and International painting, drawing, prints, sculpture and ceramics after 1880; Australian photography after 1900; and Video Art and Indigenous art after 1970. She is also an Executive Board member and Treasurer of the Art Consulting Association of Australia (ACAA) and a Member of the National Council of Jewellery Valuers NSW (Fine Arts Division).
Brenda has a BA (Hons) in Fine Arts and Archaeology from the University of Sydney, a Graduate Certificate of Adult Education from the University of Technology, Sydney as well as Diplomas in Diamond Technology and Gemmology. Her philosophy is that art is a dynamic channel of communication and should be made accessible to everyone.
Brenda joined the AAAA board to support and promote Aboriginal art, and the cultures and artists that create it. Brenda shares the AAAA’s goal to ensure a vibrant, healthy, sustainable and inclusive Aboriginal visual arts industry.
Karl has lived in the Northern Territory for the majority of his life, and grew up in the Aboriginal community, Barunga. He is now the Managing Director of Yubu Napa Gallery and Art Studio in Alice Springs.
Karl’s experience and work focuses on Aboriginal Art and its connection with the tourism industry. Karl regularly hosts national and international media groups interested in Central Australian Aboriginal Art ensuring they promote pertinent and accurate cultural information to national and international tourist markets. Resultantly, Karl works with many Non-Government and Not-for-Profit organisations and has strong relationships with all central Australian tourism operators.
Karl is a member of Tourism Central Australia and has been a member of the Aboriginal Art Association Board since 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Geography and a Graduate Diploma in Geology.
Charmaine Pwerle is a rising star of the Aboriginal Art world and among one of the most talented artists to come from Utopia alongside her mother, Barbara Weir, Aunty Emily Kngwarreye and her grandmother, Minnie Pwerle, all highly successful and well-known artists who inspired, encouraged and shared their knowledge with Charmaine.
Charmaine spent her early years at Utopia before completing her education in Adelaide. In 1992, Charmaine worked as a junior administrative assistant for Urapuntja Council while living with her mother and grandparents at Soakage Bore, an outstation in Utopia. Surrounded by her people’s culture, performing in ceremonies and learning sacred stories drove her desire to paint and represent traditional stories passed down from her grandmother Minnie.
Charmaine has developed an undeniable talent and is rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after living Indigenous artists. She has featured in exhibitions and solo exhibitions at galleries across Australia as well as internationally. Charmaine was a Finalist for the 2018 Paddington Art Prize and features in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
Charmaine joined the AAAA Board in 2018 and is already making a significant contribution to the Association, using her deep knowledge of Aboriginal art and culture to provide priceless insights to fellow board members. Charmaine is passionate in her support of fellow artists, in particular their rights and responsibilities.
Bess Nungarrayi Price was born at the remote community of Yuendumu in Central Australia. Her first language is Warlpiri, and she speaks four other Indigenous languages. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Aboriginal Community Management and Development from Curtin University and has worked in education and training, public administration, media, community development, interpreting, translating and small business management. She has served on numerous management and advisory committees and boards of directors locally and at Territory and National level.
In 1997 she established Jajirdi Consultants in partnership with her husband. With Jajirdi she developed and delivered cultural awareness programs for several private, government and non-government agencies, Aboriginal organisations and mining companies. Her work included several major social research projects.
Mrs Price was the inaugural chair of the Indigenous Affairs Advisory Council for the Northern Territory Government. In 2012 Mrs Price was elected to the Northern Territory’s Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Stuart. In September of 2013, Mrs Price joined the cabinet of the Government of the Northern Territory to serve as the Minister for Local Government and Community Services, Parks and Wildlife, Women’s Policy, Men’s Policy and Statehood. She is now back at work with Jajirdi Consultants and is helping to establish the new Yanjarra Aboriginal Corporation, a not-for-profit company devoted to social welfare and community development projects.
Bess Nungarrayi has established herself as an artist interested in a personal, contemporary re-interpretation of traditional Jukurrpa Creation myths from her own country. She presents these sacred epic tales using her iconography in a new way hoping that they will be more readily appreciated by a contemporary public who want to understand what it is all about. Her paintings are intensely personal but also linked directly to the beliefs of the ancestors she loves and honours.
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Mirri has a broad skill base which includes the curation and organisation of local, international and touring exhibitions, arts management as well as a strong passion for creating engaging and inclusive exhibitions.
During her early career, Mirri spent time in the Solomon Islands, India and London working for non-for-profit aid organisations. Mirri joined Cooee Art Gallery in 2008 working alongside Adrian Newstead OAM one of the founding members of the Aboriginal Art Association – then named the Australian Indigenous Art Trade Association (Art Trade). Mirri once again left Australia in 2013, to gain overseas experience working as the Director of a contemporary art gallery in London, returning to Australia two years later as the Cooee Art Director and part owner.
With a double degree in International Development and Fine Arts and a Masters in Art Administration from the University of NSW College of Fine Art, Mirri has been on the board of the Aboriginal Art Association since 2016. Mirri is committed to ensuring that the indigenous art market continues to thrive long into the future by engaging the next generation of artists, buyers and admirers.
Ian has been in the Aboriginal Art industry for over 30 years. He is a founding member and Board Member of both the Aboriginal Art Association of Australia and the Federal Government’s Indigenous Art Code, both of which were established to protect Aboriginal artists and develop industry-wide Best Practice protocols for working with artists. Ian served as the Aboriginal Art Association’s President from 2002 to 2012.
In the 1980s, Ian helped establish the Aboriginal design-based company, Desert Designs, in Europe, and was involved in marketing Aboriginal art in London and Europe from 1989 including mounting and touring some of the first Australian Indigenous Exhibition in Europe – specifically, London, Paris and Rome. Ian has been co-director of Japingka Aboriginal Art since 1995, a gallery that was established to set a standard for how galleries represent and sell indigenous Fine Art in a way that respects artists and their various cultures.
Ian has an ongoing commitment to promoting worldwide, not only the unique Indigenous fine art of Australian Aboriginal artists but also the exceptional culture that is an integral part of the art.