Artist, activist and proud Gumbaynggirr woman Aretha Brown has unveiled her latest artistic work in New York City.
Coinciding with NAIDOC Week, the 22-year-old's public mural has been unveiled in Bluestone Lane's Cafe in DUMBO, Brooklyn.
Ms Brown's mural is representative of her humble, early artistic upbringing.
"One of the reasons I first started painting black and white… is because I was just broke," Ms Brown said.
"When I got I got out of high school, I couldn't afford more than like two colours.
"I had to adopt my style out of necessity. And so I had to adapt in that sense, and I think a lot of Aboriginal people will resonate with that kind of resourcefulness, which I reckon makes better art."
Commissioned by the Australian Consulate-General New York with support from the Australian US Embassy and American Friends of the National Gallery of Australia, the mural represents urban Indigenous experience and corroboree, whilst incorporating traditional symbols and stories.
"It's different people coming together and dancing and celebrating and there's a bit of food and music and stuff, and so I think I really wanted to celebrate that aspect," Ms Brown said of her artwork.
"And I think it's showing American people that like there's more Aboriginal art than dot art.
"There's no one Aboriginal culture in Australia."
Ms Brown said she she takes enormous pride as a visual Indigenous storyteller, drawing inspiration for the work from her mother's influence, whilst also including her own representations depicting Aboriginal culture.
"Aboriginal people don't have our history written down in the traditional Western sense, like everything that we have about our culture is either in our visual art or like orally passed down through storytelling," Ms Brown said.
"So being an artist and an Aboriginal person is really important because this is how we communicate stories that have been passed down.
"My mum's a painter, and she has her own symbols and I've adopted some of her symbols and then made my own symbols.
Australia's Consul-General in New York Heather Ridout AO said she was honoured to contribute to Ms Brown's project.
"It is an honour to celebrate emerging Indigenous talent on the international stage," Ms Ridout said.
"During this NAIDOC Week we not only recognise Aretha Brown's enormous success as an artist, but commit to a sustained effort towards identifying and elevating Indigenous innovation in New York."
The Australian Consulate in New York also commissioned an additional painting from Ms Brown to hang in its event space, before she heads to Canada for a 'special surprise project'.
