With a broad practice spanning visual art, dance, design and more, the work of Iluka Sax-Williams is informed by his connection to his Taungurung and Torres Strait Islander cultures. His passion for sharing and enhancing awareness of First Nations practices manifests not only in his work, but also his involvement with community-strengthening educational activities like hosting possum skin pyrography workshops. The Melbourne-based artist’s pokerwork on kangaroo skin artwork Woora Liwik was exhibited at the 10th Koorie Heritage Trust Art Show in 2022 to 2023, winning him the RMIT Emerging Artist Award. His work was also curated into Craft Victoria in 2022, with 2023 seeing him commissioned to create work for the recent Making the Metro Tunnel exhibition at Domain House Gallery, Melbourne. Combining linework with statements of cultural reclamation, it’s no surprise that demand for Sax-Williams’ work is growing.
Above: Iluka Sax-Williams,The Wiinj Element, 2021. Possum pyrography, 45 x 32 x 0.7cm. Courtesy: the artist.