Touring Exhibition: Layers of Blak

Koorie Heritage Trust is proud to present Layers of Blak, a touring exhibition supported by Creative Victoria’s ‘Touring Victoria’ initiative.

Layers of Blak celebrates the creative outcome of the Koorie Heritage Trust’s highly successful Blak Design Program.

Participating First Peoples designers are: Thelma Austin (Gunditjmara), Mandi Barton (Yorta Yorta, Barapa Barapa, Wemba Wemba), Lorraine Brigdale (Yorta Yorta), Nikki Browne (Bidjara), Deanne Gilson (Wadawurrung), Tammy Gilson (Wadawurrung), Elijah Money (Wiradjuri), Yasmin Silveira (Palawa), Sammy Trist (Taungurung), Dominic White (Palawa) and Tracy Wise (Barkindji Ngiyampaa Maligundidj).

Now in its second year, the KHT’s Blak Design Program is the first of its kind nationally, marking a crucial step in recognising and reclaiming space for First Peoples design in the wider Australian design landscape. Presented by the KHT in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria and RMIT University, with generous support from the Ian Potter Foundation, Blak Design aims to foster First Peoples cultural innovation within the Victorian design sector and provide a platform for nurturing sustainable, collaborative First Peoples design practices.

Building on their passion for jewellery design, the participating artists have undertaken a series of jewellery making intensives at RMIT jewellery studios with notable jewellers Blanche Tilden and Laura Deakin, with technical assistance from Lindy McSwan.

Each artist presents a beautiful range of contemporary jewellery, layered with complexity and grounded in their connection to culture, Country and family and the rich legacy of adornment these hold. The works draw on cultural connections through materials and design, while embracing experimentation with creative ways to reimagine jewellery.

Exhibition Venue Partners & Dates

• Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, 3 June – 3 Sept 2023
•  Tarnanthi Festival in partnership with JamFactory at Seppeltsfield, South Australia, 7 Oct – 26 Nov 2023
•  Art Gallery of Ballarat, 9 Dec 2023  – 10 Mar 2024
•  Gippsland Art Gallery, 15 June – 25 Aug 2024

Exhibition Catalogue

Download the Layers of Blak Catalogue

Artist Profiles