Girramay Traditional Owner
Painting, Ceramics

John Murray began painting in 2008 and immediately found working creatively as a positive outlet for expression and communication hitherto impacted by his disabilities. John has developed a very keen interest in expressing his life experiences through his art. His work brings to life the pleasure he takes in fishing, camping and living in the rainforest environment, watching his favourite sports on television, his family and traditional stories.

John had his first solo show at Kick Arts Contemporary Art Centre, Cairns in August 2010 to coincide with the 2010 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair. This exhibition has recently been selected to tour Queensalnd in 2012. John has work in a number of private and institutional collections including the State Library of Queensland, Queensland Art Gallery and Arts Queensland

Exhibitions:
2012 John’s Stories (touring show), Queensland Arts Council
2011 Across Country five years of Indigenous Australian Art, GOMA QLD
2011 Girringun Guni Marr, Merenda Gallery, Fremantle, WA
2011 Bagu on the strand, Strand Ephemera Townsville (Artistic Excellence Award)
2011 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Cairns Cruise Terminal
2011 QR Tilt Train, Launched Cairns September
2011 Shalom Gamarada, NSW, Sydney
2011 Spinifex Country and Beyond, Gatakers Art space, Maryborough
2011 Dulgu-Barra Bagu, Umbrella Studios, Townsville
2011 Bunyaydinyu Bagu, Suzanne O’Connell Gallery Brisbane
2010 John’s Stories (solo show), Kick Arts Gallery, Cairns
2010 Girringun, GallerySmith, Melbourne
2010 Spirited, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane
2010 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Tanks Art Centre, Cairns
2010 6th Shalom Gamarada Ngiyani Yana, Shalom College, UNSW Sydney
2010 Cardwell Art Prize, Hinchinbrook Gallery, Cardwell
2010 Girringun at Canopy, Canopy Artspace, Cairns
2010 Girringun Yunggul One Together, Suzanne O’Connell Gallery, Brisbane
2009 Mundi – Big Mob, Girringun Christmas Exhibition
2009 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Tanks Art Centre, Cairns
2009 Murray Upper and Beyond, Girringun Aboriginal Art Centre
2009 Laura Festival
2009 Hinchinbrook Art Prize, Group show at Ingham
2009 Q150 Innisfail, Mayoral reception at Innisfail town hall

Other:

Cover image Journal of Physiotherapy 2010