Following the success of her recent Alice Art Prize win, acclaimed Wadjan artist Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty will present a major solo exhibition, Grounded + Growing in Country, at Kate Owen Gallery this June.
Bringing together significant recent works alongside important paintings connected to major art prizes and exhibitions, the exhibition offers a powerful insight into an artist whose practice has remained deeply grounded in family, Country and cultural continuity for more than three decades.
Tyalmuty's distinctive visual language carries ancestral and lived connections to her homeland of Bulgul, preserving and sharing stories passed through generations while continuing to evolve through her own deeply intuitive practice.
Her work reflects both personal memory and collective cultural knowledge, transporting viewers into the rich landscapes and stories that inhabit her Country.
Her celebrated career includes major accolades such as the People's Choice Award at the 24th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, the inaugural Margaret Olley Art Award at the Mosman Art Prize, and most recently, the 2026 Alice Art Prize.
Equally significant is Tyalmuty's role as a mentor within her family and community. Through her encouragement and guidance, younger generations have embraced art as a way of strengthening connection to culture, identity and storytelling.
This spirit continues through the Bulgul Artists Collective and in the growing practice of her son, emerging artist Heath Minjin Wilson.
To mark the exhibition opening, Tyalmuty and Wilson will spend four days painting live in the gallery as artists in residence from June 4-7, offering visitors and media a rare opportunity to experience two generations of artists working side by side while sharing stories of family, culture and Country.
Wilson has already received national recognition through selection in the Mosman Art Prize, Calleen Art Award and 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, signalling the continuation of a powerful artistic and cultural legacy.
Tyalmuty's connection to Country and culture, combined with her non-indigenous education, are the foundations she uses to express her ideas and experiences in her own unique manner.
This capacity to give contemporary interpretations to her ancient Dreaming stories makes her a distinct voice in the contemporary Indigenous art scene today.
Grounded + Growing in Country celebrates not only Tyalmuty's artistic achievements but also her ongoing dedication to preserving family stories, strengthening cultural connections, and nurturing the next generation.
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