For Janelle Burger, her recent collaboration isn't just about bringing her art into people's homes, but hopefully bringing joy and calm into a special time of their lives.

The Noongar and Sicilian artist is the first creative lending their craft to art design-focused specialist cot makers Bold Baby's new collection.

Ms Burger's connection to culture and art started from a young age. Growing up, her Nonna's house had sculptures in every room and art had a big presence.

She continues a lineage of Indigenous art though maternal-side. Ms Burger's grandmother was a painter.

Now, her own works will be there from the start for others.

"I'm happy something so colourful is going into a baby space because it is such a great fit. It felt very special to be part of this project. A baby's environment is so important, and I liked the idea that my artwork could become part of someone's early memories and daily life," she said.

Bold Baby launched in 2024.

Co-founders Jim Walsh and Megan Cooper created their customisable cots — with a growing number of available colourways — to be something more than just functional or static furniture.

Their cots can adjust, literally, and grow with a young family and their baby. They aim to make a nursery a canvas for storytelling through visual art.

Ms Burger's featured work in their Art Series cot brings a new level for texture and colour to the range.

She also hopes it can create an emotional response.

"It draws from my connection to Australia, nature, and a feeling of home rather than one direct story. Living in Europe, I feel a deeper connection to my home country, and I feel that influences my art," Ms Burger, who is currently based in Paris, said of her design.

"I'd like families to know that this art in their nursery was made with care and honesty. I hope it brings warmth, creativity, and a sense of joy and calmness into their space."

Ms Burger encouraged Indigenous creatives coming through, particularly women and girls, saying: "Keep going and trust your own voice. There's value in your perspective and your story, even if the path feels uncertain at times."

"I think when you hear about Indigenous women in the media, it's often in a negative light," she said. "I really like to include Indigenous Australian women in my artwork because our voices can be shut off. I want the world to know we're here and we're thriving."

Her work came onto Bold Baby's radar when they were developing their first cot.

The co-founders first saw her work on the cover of Frankie magazine in 2022.

"I loved Janelle's illustrations so I bookmarked it and thought: if we ever get to a point where the Art Series could become a reality, then Janelle is the first person I'm going to ask. Three years later, here we are," Mr Walsh said.

That Frankie cover was an illustration, "rich in colour and depth" of Australian native plants.

"And when you look further into her personal work, her patterns in particular, you can see expressive solid lines full of movement and colour, and you can just tell there's a deeper story behind each piece," Mr Walsh told National Indigenous Times.

"When we spoke to Janelle, she spoke about her strong connection to Country, even from thousands of miles away in Paris. It's those roots and that perspective that make it such an honour to have her work featured on the first Art Series cot."

Mr Walsh says Bold Baby want's to be a curator of arts. If a child spends more than 20,000 hours in a cot it's the backdrop to their first years of life, and should be more than a piece of furniture.

"It should be beautiful", he said.

Looking ahead, their vision for the Art Series is to build on Ms Burger's contributions with more artists, from Australia and overseas, from various disciplines.