Lee Darroch wearing possum cloak with Lyrebird songline painting – Photo Courtesy ABC – Photographer Clare Rawlinson 2016
Lee Darroch is a proud Yorta Yorta, Mutti, Boon Wurrong woman who has lived for the past 30 years with her partner, David and two children, Ben and Zenzi on Raymond Island. She is a renowned visual artist and leader of the cultural revival of traditional cultural practices across South-eastern Australia in particular possum skin cloak making, sculpture, public art, feather work and coiled basketry.
>> Click here to view a selection of artworks
Recent Melbourne Exhibitions:
2008 Yorta Yorta Woka, Hissing Swan Art Gallery, Port Fairy
Reconciliation, Manningham City Council
2007 Biganga, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre, Melbourne Museum
Warrior Women, Koorie Heritage Trust
2006 Gunya Winyarr, Koorie Heritage Trust
Retrospective, Australian Print Workshop
Urbaninity, Victorian Parliament
Commonwealth Games Exhibition, Black Box, Victorian Arts Centre
Commonwealth Games Exhibition, Sofitel Hotel
Interstate Exhibitions:
2016 Scratching the surface, Alliance Française de Sydney
2008 Yinalung Yenu: Women’s Journey, Power House Museum, Sydney
2007 Tooloyn Koortakay, National Museum of Australia
2006 Victorian Printmakers, National Gallery of Australia
Tooloyn Koortakay, National Museum of Australia, Canberra
2005 Painting Native Title Business, National Tour
Australian Print Workshop Archive II, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Recent Community Art Projects:
2008 Light in Winter, Federation Square. Second Light in winter project. Event coordination.
2007 State-wide Indigenous Visual Arts & Crafts Training through Deadly Arts Bus. Strategy, Koori Business Network
2007 The Light in Winter, Federation Square. Event coordination for the Koori launch.
2005-08 Birrarung Wilam Commemorative Place. Design & project management of $1 million public art project at the rear of Federation Square, Melbourne.
2005-06 State wide Possum Skin Cloak project for the Opening Ceremony for Commonwealth Opening Ceremony. Project coordination of six regional Koori communities for the Opening Ceremony of Commonwealth games.
2005-07 Festival of Healthy Living: produce a Rainbow Serpent for community.
Community arts project in Lakes Entrance.
Art Awards:
2002, 2001, 2000 Selected for Telstra National Indigenous Art Award, Darwin.
2001 Highly Commended National Indigenous Heritage Art Award, Canberra.
Art Collections:
National Gallery of Australia
National Museum of Australia
National Gallery of Victoria
Aboriginal Affairs Victoria
Museum Victoria
Koorie Heritage Trust
Flinders University Art Museum
Melbourne Grammar School
Manningham City Council
Various private collections.
Lee Darroch in Echuca Biganga cloak – Photo courtesy The Artist
>> Click here to view a selection of artworks