NICOLE CHAFFEY

MENTOR | art painting

A distinguished artist based in Newcastle, Australia, Nicole Chaffey has spent two decades weaving her Biripi heritage into the fabric of her art. Her creative journey, deeply rooted in contemplation of her ancestry, allows her to paint landscapes with a delicate interplay between representation and abstraction. A strong sense of community responsibility has also seen Chaffey in various teaching and support roles throughout her career, with the most recent being the position of Museum Gallery Director at the Murrook Culture Centre on Worimi Country, just north of Newcastle.

Chaffey's creative practice is evidence of an artist drawing inspiration from the Australian landscape, to which she has explored in a variety of mediums. Oils remain the material of choice; where colour and form can be coerced to exist in a liminal space between visibility and sensation. This is the intangible realm of spirituality, heritage and connection.

Reflection on the past to understand the present feeds Chaffey's practice. Her art often recites family lore, unselfconsciously baring the skeletons of an undeniably brutal national history and honouring those who fell victim to it.

The aspects of Chaffey's landscapes – line, colour, form, and balance – are meticulously crafted, serving as a visual exploration of the connections between landscape and human experience, memory and distance, and events which shape our humanity.

Chaffey has exhibited widely in venues throughout Australia, achieving national attention and recognition. Inclusion in awardwinning exhibitions such as 'in-visi-ble' at Museum of Art and Culture (MAC) yapang Lake Macquarie, and 'Upriver Downriver' at Maitland Regional Art Gallery are highlights among solo exhibitions at AKB Galleries and the Lock Up Newcastle. Her work is represented in many private homes and notable collections, including the University of Central Queensland, Deloitte Melbourne, and Chubb Sydney.

Determining that the act of making relied upon a supportive research practice, and seeking an avenue to dive deeply into family connection and cultural history, Chaffey undertook a Master of Philosophy (Aboriginal Studies/Contemporary Art) at Wollotuka, part of the University of Newcastle. She completed this in 2015 with research outcomes acknowledged with a Research Higher Excellence Award. Chaffey's achievements also include finalist spots in the Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship in 2008, Macquarie Group Emerging Artist Prize in 2013, and NSW Parliament Plein Air Art Prize in 2017. She has accepted major awards such as the Wollotuka Acquisitive Art Prize in 2011, and Friends of the University Art Prize in 2014.

Taking on more supportive roles in creative and cultural spaces, Chaffey has found real enjoyment in helping others to tell their own stories creatively and visually. As the Museum Gallery Director at Murrook Culture Centre, she helps deliver Worimi-driven content to visitors of Worimi Country. She facilitates the research, development and implementation of high-quality exhibits which share the unique perspectives of land, language, history, culture and present-day concerns of the Worimi people.

Located in Port Stephens, Murrook Culture Centre is a significant institution that plays a pivotal role in preserving and promoting Aboriginal culture. It serves as a hub for cultural exchange, education, and celebration.

Chaffey “couldn't say no” when invited to be the Art Painting mentor for The Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship in 2024. Murrook was the host venue for last year's program, and Chaffey saw first hand the life-changing possibilities it offers. Through providing mentorship and sharing resources and experiences with a finalist, she hopes it will empower

them to navigate the practical elements of being a creative as they share their unique cultural perspectives with the world. Nicole says about the scholarship program, “I am honoured to be involved with The Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship for its second year, and I'm looking forward to seeing the exciting creations of another new batch of Indigenous creatives. Recognition among your Blak peers and finding you are not alone feeds that urge to get up day after day and make art. Sometimes it's really hard, and tougher still when funds are scarce. Hopefully all the finalists will find community here. The major prize will absolutely, significantly impact someone's career trajectory.”

Through her own perspectives, artistic innovations and dedication to the arts, Nicole Chaffey shares heritage and story as part of a growing creative community of Indigenous creators across the country. She works tirelessly to ensure that these rich traditions of culture stories remain vibrant, protected and accessible to all, and importantly, will be here for the next generation to learn from and enjoy.

WRITTEN BY JACK BAILEY