Keith Wikmunea was born in 1967 in Aurukun.  He was raised in Aurukun by his parents.  Keith is from the Language group Wik-Alken (mother’s side) and Wik-Mungkan (father’s side). His totems are the White Cookatoo, Goanna from his father’s side and the Galah and Frilled-neck lizard from this mother’s side. Keith’s country is Kencherang (father’s side) which is south from Aurukun. There’s a large freshwater lagoon there. During the wet season the saltwater comes up the creek during the high tides. “There is one large creek that comes into that country which splits out into my mother’s country called Ti-tree”. When the freshwater breaks out in the wet season it joins with the creek at Kencherang and connects to the saltwater.  Keith belongs to the Apalech Clan from his father’s side. His mother’s side is the Winchanam Clan. As an artist, Keith is passionate about passing on his creative and cultural knowledge to future generations. His vision is for Wik and Kugu people to keep their culture strong and alive.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Keith stared his working career as a house painter for the Aurukun Shire Council. He has also been a member of the Aurukun Justice Group and has been working at the Wik and Kugu Arts centre for the past two years.

EXHIBITIONS

(Group)

2023.              Telstra NATSIAA Exhibition, Museum & Art Gallery of Northern Territory

2023                Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF)

2023                Aak Keenkanam, From the Beginning Exhibition, JGM Gallery, London

2023               Aak Min! Exhibition, Vault Gallery, Aboriginal Art Co, Brisbane,

2022                Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF)

2022               “Yuk Wuy Min Ngantamp” – Northsite Gallery Cairns

2022               “Aak Puul” – the Brunswick Street Gallery Melbourne

2022               Sydney Modern Project, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Yirabana Gallery

2021                Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF), Cairns

2020                Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF), Cairns

2019                Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF), Cairns

2018                Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF), Cairns

2017                Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF), Cairns

2017                National Gallery Victoria (NGV), Awards Dinner

2017                National Gallery Victoria (NGV), ‘Past Legacy Present Tense’

2016                Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF) , Cairns

2016                Merricks Gallery, “The Family” Mornington Peninsula

2017                Wik & Kugu 2017: Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane QLD

2017                Present Tense. Past Legacy: Present Tense: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne VIC

2017                My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition: Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville QLD

2017               My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition: Redland Art Gallery, Redland QLD

2017               My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition: Caboolture Regional Art Gallery, Caboolture QLD

2017               My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition: Gympie Regional Gallery, Gympie QLD

2016               My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition: Rockhampton Art Gallery, Rockhamton QLD

2016              Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2016: Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, Cairns QLD

2016              My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition: Logan Art Gallery, Logan QLD

2016              My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition: Toowoomba Regional Gallery, Toowoomba QLD

2016              Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2016: Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, Cairns QLD

2016              My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition: Logan Art Gallery, Logan QLD

2016              My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Contemporary Art from Black Queensland. Touring Exhibition: Toowoomba Regional Gallery, Toowoomba QLD

2014             My Country: Contemporary Art from Black Australia, curated by Bruce McLean: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

2014             My Country: Contemporary Art from Black Australia, curated by Bruce McLean: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

2013             Aurukun 2013: Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne VIC

2013            My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Brisbane QLD

2013            My Country, I Still Call Australia Home: Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Brisbane QLD

2011           Aurukun: New Paintings and Sculptures: Martin Browne Contemporary, Sydney NSW

2011           21st Century: Art In the First Decade: Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane QLD

2008          Aurukun Sculpture: Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne VIC

2007          Puulway, Wik & Kugu Totems by the artists of Aurukun: Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi, Melbourne VIC

2005 “New Directions from Aurukun” Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi

COLLECTIONS:

– Magistrate Wendy Cull Private Collection

– Yiribana Gallery, AGNSW

– Collections National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne VIC

– National Museum of Australia, Canberra ACT

– Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane QLD

Selected Bibliography

2016         AT THE GALLERY: Even the dogs are barking about fantastic art show. Lisa Loader. Central Western Daily. APRIL 23 2016