Clan groups: Kurtjar
Language groups: Kunggara
Ian Waldron was born in Normanton, Queensland in 1950. In the mid-1990s he studied Visual Arts at the Northern Territory University before returning to Far North Queensland where he now lives and works.
Through his art practice Ian pays tribute to the stories of the Kurtjar people from his homeland of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Ian is a prolific artist and recurring subject matters include the characters, sites and memories of his home country in the Gulf.
Every work that I have ever painted is anchored in The Gulf one way or another. My art is the visual representation of my identity - I am my country.
Ian has exhibited extensively since 1995 and has been selected three times as a finalist in The Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW. His is represented in public and private collections and has been awarded numerous commissions, residencies, and grants during his career.
ARTNOW FNQ 2019
13 Dec 2019 – 2 Feb 2020
View exhibition
ARTNOW FNQ 2017
13 Dec 2019 – 2 Feb 2020
View exhibition
The Cairns Art Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, names or voices of deceased persons in photographs, film or text.