Arkeria Rose Armstrong / Bagay Maarama

A Gamilaraay artist deeply influenced by her grandmother Rose Fernando, an Elder and sand painter. Her wider practice centres women, culture and the passing of narratives and knowledge between generations. Rose was a Gamilaraay Elder and one of the last sand painters in northern NSW and her special nickname for Arkeria was “Lilly-Rose”. Arkeria Rose Armstrong, a vibrant young female Gamilaraay artist, was born in Ceduna, SA in 1988 to Stephanie and Robert Armstrong.

Arkeria had her first solo exhibition in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 2015 and most definitely has a bright future ahead of her. Women are intrinsically linked to the narratives portrayed in her artwork. Her mum still has her childhood drawings in boxes under her bed as well as pictures framed and displayed in their lineage home.