Noongar Country 2025 | Celebrating Continuing Connection to Noongar Boodja
From Saturday 29 March 2025
To Sunday 20 July 2025
This year marks a significant milestone for the Noongar Country exhibition at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, celebrating 25 years of showcasing the vibrant art, culture, and stories of the Noongar people. The theme of this year’s exhibition, Celebrating Continuing Connection to Noongar Boodja, reflects the enduring and evolving relationship between the Noongar people and their Country.
As we reflect on a quarter-century of creative expression, we come together to honour the deep connection Noongar communities have with their land, history, and traditions. Through this exhibition, we invite you to experience the richness of Noongar culture as told through the eyes of contemporary artists. Each artwork is a testament to the strength, resilience, and beauty of Noongar people, offering insights into their lived experiences and ongoing cultural renewal.
Join us in celebrating the power of storytelling, the diversity of Noongar voices, and the enduring significance of Noongar Boodja. This is not just an exhibition; it is a gathering of community, a time for reflection, and a call to acknowledge and celebrate the living legacy of Noongar art.
Artists
This year's Noongar Country exhibition features 104 individual artworks by 52 First Nation artists:
Megan Corby • Raelene Hayward • Graham (Swag) Taylor • Rhonda Taylor • Amanda Bell • Duncan Bennell • Bianca Willder • Ethyn Amat • Rhona Wallam • Janine McAullay • Coby Kahn • Cassandra Bynder • Sandra R Nebro • Walmajarri Bunuba Elder • Whadjuk Noongar Man • Minang Noongar Man • Minang/Willman Noongar Man • Whadjuk Noongar Woman • Erica Dimer • Erica D. Dimer • Katelyn Whitehurst • Rebecca Jetta • Delphine Schwarze • Shannon Clohessy • Korrine Bennell • Wombat (Robert Gates) • Chris Collard • Jennifer Riley • Melissa Riley • Scarlett Cumbers • Marjorie Ugle • Katherine Ugle • Samantha Thorley • Charlotte Ugle • Georgina Webb • Candy Riley • Beverly Thomson • Diahan Riley • Darnell Hart • Rhonda Norman • Troy Bennell • Tahlia Bennell • Selena Hill • Lera Bennell • Dawn Alone • Clayton Wallam • Dellas Bennell • Jodie Riley • Charmaine Williams • Phillip Hansen • Keelyn Regan • Shannon Clohessy
Award Winners
| Noongar Country 2025 Landscape Award | Minang/Willman Noongar Man Home Country |
| Noongar Country 2025 Local Award | Georgina Webb Kambarang |
| Noongar Country 2025 Youth Award | Tahlia Bennell Koorl Worl Wardandi Boodja Connections (Smoke Sky Saltwater Country Connections) |
| Noongar Country 2025 Overall Award | Beverly Thomson Birthing Tree |
MEET THE CURATOR
Candice Nannup
Candice Nannup is a Willman, Ballardong Noongar curator and artist based on Wardandi Boodja. Currently serving as the Noongar Country Curator at Bunbury Regional Art Gallery (2025–2027), her emerging curatorial practice is deeply rooted in cultural storytelling, community engagement, and the celebration of Noongar art and identity.rnrnWith a background in visual arts and textile experimentation, Candice has explored the intersection of art and fashion, co-producing the inaugural Noongar Arts Program Fashion Show in 2024. Her commitment to elevating First Nations creative voices extends to her work in exhibition development, programming, and mentorship within the Noongar arts community.rnrnThrough curatorial and artistic practice, Candice is dedicated to fostering spaces that honour Noongar heritage while pushing the boundaries of contemporary First Nations art.
Image: Noongar Country 2024 exhibition, Our Elders, Our Pathfinders.
Proudly sponsored by Alcoa through the Community Partnership Program, with support from the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries, and the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program, and delivered by Bunbury Regional Art Gallery and the City of Bunbury.
