Indigenous artists from across the country have been named finalists in the 2025 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA), with 71 selected from 216 entries.

Among them is Dunghutti, Biripi and Wiradjuri woman Wanita Lowe, a Cultural Arts teacher based in Wollongong, whose large-scale painting 'Call of the Bilirr Bilirr (Black Cockatoo)' explores her experience of cultural reconnection.

"For me, I'm telling my truths, and usually a lot of my art practice does come from my own storytelling," Ms Lowe said.

"Not growing up on Country, obviously I didn't have those songlines or stories from my childhood, so my perspective is from my own life experiences.

"I wanted to paint a strong message, but also a celebration of reconnecting with culture."

Ms Lowe grew up in the foster care system and was separated from her Aboriginal family and community for much of her life.

Her painting reflects that journey through a series of symbolic figures - from a white child raised away from culture, to a grey figure discovering identity through dance, to three black figures representing her cultural strength as a grown woman.

"The call of the Bilirr Bilirr, the black cockatoo, for me I always felt an affiliation with that because it would turn up at significant times, good or bad," she said.

"It's almost like the spirits or the ancestors calling me back to Country or back to who I am as an Aboriginal person.

"I just turned 50, so it's kind of been the life journey of my own identity as well."

Now a teacher with TAFE NSW and a member of Boomalli Aboriginal Art Co-operative, Ms Lowe said art has become a vital way for her to give back.

"I feel like art is part of our makeup as Blackfellas... we yarn, we do all that, but through art, that was the language as well," she said.

"Young people, some have lost their way, some are trying to join the dots of where they are.

"Giving back is really important to me - just watching them flourish and get an idea of who they are creates confidence."

Ms Lowe said 'Call of the Bilirr Bilirr' may challenge viewers but carries a message of resilience and self-discovery.

"It's a piece that could probably make people feel a little bit uncomfortable, because being in the system, unfortunately the statistics are high of abuse and trauma," she said.

"But I want them to see the light at the end of the tunnel... once I started to really delve into who I was as a person and an Aboriginal woman, that was celebrated - and it still is today.

"There's a hard truth-telling in it too, but there's something magic in that journey."

Presented by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) on Larrakia Country, and supported by Principal Partner Telstra, the exhibition is now in its 42nd year.

It remains Australia's longest-running and most prestigious Indigenous art award.

Finalists will compete across seven categories, including the Telstra General Painting Award and Telstra Emerging Artist Award.

'Call of the Bilirr Bilirr' will be exhibited at MAGNT in Darwin from 21 June 2025 to 26 January 2026.

Winners will be announced on 8 August.