As a young man, Vernon was taught by his late father Lawence Marbendinar how to carve. Lawrence and Vernon worked in the sawmill as part of an Aurukun community work program building houses for outstations. During these years, Vernon spent most of his time around his outstation of Bull Yard which have him the opportunity to learn about his ancestral homelands and the many Creation Stories that belong to the area. Vernon developed a deep love and connection for his Story Places, evident in his unique carved works that he continues to create at the Wik & Kugu Arts Centre.

Vernon’s totems include Dingo, Snake, Bower Bird & Kakalang (fire hawk).

 

 

Group Shows

2022                Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF), Cairns

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

National Gallery Victoria (NGV), Awards Dinner

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

2016                Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF) , Cairns

2016                Merricks Gallery, “The Family” Mornington Peninsula 

 

EXHIBITIONS

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

 

Awards:

2017               Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Cairns Regional Gallery Award for Best Art Centre

2016               McClelland Sculpture Survey & Award Finalist