Tony Wilson / Yunga (Older Brother – Family Series) (21-91)

Tony Wilson is multi-disciplinary artist based in South Australia. He creates intricate and evocative artworks that explore themes of identity, collective resonance and connectedness. Heavily influenced by his cultural heritage, interactions with people and environment, Tony’s work propels us to “the space between our thoughts”. They call us to reconnect to our inner-selves while examining our relationships and the impact our interactions have on each other and our environment.

”The combination of growing up in working class suburbs of Adelaide and my Aboriginal/Italian heritage forced me at a very young age to question and discover my place in the world. Art and travel have and continue to allow me to navigate my way on my journey and feel a sense of ‘home’ whenever and wherever I am creating.”

Self-empowerment and the therapeutic potential of art plays a central theme in Tony’s artistic practice that extends into local communities. He is passionate about sharing knowledge and connecting with young people through his work in local schools where he has led youth engagement programs including art mentoring programs for over 18 years. Tony artistic work also includes digital art, graphic design and photography.

Selected Solo / Group Exhibitions

2021
• ‘Seven Sisters, exploring Aboriginal Cosmology’, Hearth Gallery, Healesville, Victoria

2020
• ‘Spaces’ Guildhouse, Adelaide Town Hall, South Australia

2019
• ‘Tarnanthi’, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide
• ‘Searching for Dreaming’, Solo Exhibition, Fontanelle Gallery, Port Adelaide
• ‘Our Mob’ Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide
• ‘Vietnam – One in, All In’ Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide

2018
• ‘Interconnections’ Solo Exhibition, Tandanya Cultural Institute, Adelaide
• ‘Our Mob’ Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide

2017
• ‘Our Mob’ Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide
• ‘Tarnanthi in the Port’ Solo Exhibition, Fontanelle Gallery, Port Adelaide

2016
• ‘Peace is Personal’ Black Diamond Gallery, Port Adelaide

Selected Collections
• Tandanya Cultural Institute
• Adelaide Festival Centre
• 2020 Carlton AFL Indigenous Jersey – Designer

Awards
• 2018 Don Dunstan Foundation Emerging Artist Prize – Our Mob Exhibition, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide
• 2017 PAE ATSI Award ‘Contributions to the Arts’ 2017, Adelaide
• 2016 People’s Choice Award. Peace in Personal Exhibition, Port Adelaide, South Australia

The story of this painting comes from my ‘Family’ series and is about the impact environment and people have on each other and a reminder of the influence we hold in our response to it. It speaks about our journey and our path. But a path of experiences. It suggests that feeling of ‘being on our path’ is more about a feeling of being present, being in the here and now. How present is your presence? Moving to the space between thought and feeling. Paying attention. Becoming the observer of your own existence. Appreciating the day we have in front of us. Make your way home back to the present.