About the Artist
Thelma is a Palawa woman with family ties to Cape Barren Island off the North-East coast of Tasmania. She grew up in Swan Hill, a small town on the Murray River in the Loddon Mallee region. Most of Thelma’s work is inspired by her totem, the Tasmanian Emu. A former graffiti artist, she first started creating work with The Torch in 2016 and has developed a unique painting style using bold, often primary coloured backgrounds with 2D depictions of emus. Thelma has a dedicated practice and has recently been exploring incorporating landscapes into her scenes. She loves connecting with her culture including researching the practice of muttonbirding, a traditional hunting method for Aboriginal Tasmanians.

About the Artwork
This painting is all about the Elders that have passed away. They all should be recognised for all their life experiences and knowledge passed on to the community and values they teach us. They are the best role models and I’m thankful for their powerful stories.