Gene Kelaher

I am a proud Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwaan Pilaarrkiyalu man and multidisciplinary artist. My creative practice spans painting, sculpture, and the making of Cultural objects, and extends into performance, didgeridoo, cultural dance, sound healing, and Cultural education.

My deep connection to Country, life in urban spaces, and the stories of my family and old people—especially those impacted by the Stolen Generations—are central to my art and cultural work. Visual art first became a space of healing during a difficult time in my life, and it continues to ground me, connect me, and give voice to stories that need to be shared.

I began performing and busking inin 1996 and in 1998 I was honoured Marrickville Council’s Young Citizen of the Year for Performing Arts, alongside the great Mum Shirl, who was awarded Senior Citizen of the Year. I have performed with Yidaki Didge and Dance, and Diramu Dance and Didgeridoo, sharing culture and songlines across many communities.

Since then, I’ve exhibited widely and have been a finalist in the Gosford Art Prize (2014), Burwood Art Prize (2024–2025), Remagine Art Prize (2025), and the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) in 2025. Today, I continue to pass on cultural knowledge and creative practice in my role as Aboriginal Cultural Arts Coordinator at TAFE NSW Eora Centre. I am honoured to guide the next generation of Aboriginal artists as they connect with their culture, stories, and inner strength through art.