About the Artist
Gerard Black is a proud Worimi Man. After a 10-year career as a tattoo artist, Gerard is now focusing on his painting, drawing and digital art. His work reflects his Indigenous background, storytelling and love of nature and draws on his strong design background from tattooing to produce a unique style of art. This together connects ancient Indigenous art with modern design and medium, bringing them into the future, and creating a new modern style promoting reconciliation and connection.

Gerard’s work establishes a link between landscapes, reality and the spirit within, as Gerard often uses actual topographic maps as the basis for his artwork. He uses the physical colours, shapes and landmarks as a jumping-off point. He then uses ancient designs and patterns to symbolise the different aspects of his art, tapping into his indigenous heritage with designs, shapes, colours and themes.

Every single work of art that Gerard produces has a story connecting the art to a specific place, area or theme, every stroke has meaning, and nothing is random. Gerard's highly detailed and meaningful tattoos and this award-winning skill have now translated into the incredibly intricate artwork he does today.

About the Artwork
The artwork I created reflects the ancient traditions of the Worimi, focusing on the role of fisherwomen. The black background symbolises our deep connection to the land, water, and unseen forces. At the centre, red ochre represents the Worimi fisherwoman’s sacred gesture of dropping her little finger into the Bathu (water), marking her bond with the Makurr (fish) and the natural world. This practice, ‘Gatjiwuy,’ is integral to our cultural identity, where women would sacrifice the first joint of their little finger, ensuring abundance and skill in fishing.

Surrounding the red ochre are white circles of small dots, symbolising the ripples from the fisherwoman’s sacrifice and the interconnectedness of our people across generations. These ripples signify the unbroken chain linking us to the land and the sacred knowledge passed down through time.

The story of ‘Gatjiwuy’ embodies the resilience and spiritual connection of the Worimi people to nature. It also honours sacred Increase Sites (gayay) where women gave birth, representing life cycles and the strength of women. This artwork is a tribute to our Ancestors, our stories, and the ongoing journey of our people, celebrating the enduring power of culture and connection.