About Grace
Grace is a passionate Indigenous artist. She was born in Ferntree Gully and for most of her life lived close to this area. She was raised on her grandmother’s country on Wurundjeri land in Victoria. Grace he has also spent many years travelling in outback Queensland opal country connecting to community and now resides on the Gold Coast.
She is a valued member of the Aboriginal Yugambeh language group community, where she is welcomed and valued for her extensive community work and love of her art.
Grace has been drawing, painting and designing since childhood, and studied many various forms of art for most of her life.
Grace is inspired predominately by nature and often paints realistic Australian animals and birds within her intricate lace like dot artwork stories. This adds to her unique indigenous rust and floral art style.
"The way I paint reminds me of peering over a lace tablecloth seeing my Grandma’s loving face and her smiling and reaching out, passing to me another sneaky biscuit before dinner.
When l paint, l surround my images of Australian animals and birds with lace like dot work, the respect of my culture, my grandma’s love for lace and with great respect for my beautiful heritage.
My work is a reminder to my connection to country, my travels and my family connection to Victoria and all that I love"
Grace's great grandmother, Grace Humphries (pictured above) is the Wurundjeri connection to her heritage in Victoria.
Grace has dedicated her life to her aboriginal culture for her great-grandmother and her grandparents loss of connection to their heritage.
Her great-grandmother was made a ward of the state in 1889 and from the stolen generation. She was given to the Humphries family in Gisborne as a young child.
In years to come, Grace's grandmother Emma Brown (daughter to Grace Humphries) and her 9 siblings were taken/stolen from Grace Humphries and were also made wards of the state in Victoria. Emma Brown went on to married a Crawford and had 11 children, including Grace's mother Georgina.
Grace's indigenous grandfather was a Crawford but no decisive connection to his heritage has be traced and Grace is still searching for that connection in the Sydney NSW area. Sadly, all he knew was that he had lost connection to his indigenous culture but he was born in Ballarat, Victoria.
For my Grandparents....
"I want to learn everything about my culture and dreamtime stories. I paint in their honour and for my children to know their heritage. I am proud to be Aboriginal because my grandparents weren't allowed to be proud of their heritage"
Grace Brown
Enjoy her beautiful work!
Growing up in Ferntree Gully was a magical experience filled with the wonders of nature and the beauty of native animals and plants. As a child, I found joy in exploring the lush greenery and vibrant colors that surrounded me, making every day an adventure of discovery. The close connection to my grandmother, who lived her life in Barton Ave and is now buried in the cemetery in Ferntree Gully, added a special layer of nostalgia and love to my childhood memories.
This connection to Ferntree Gully is intertwined with my Aboriginal heritage, passed down through generations and cherished by my family. My grandparents played a pivotal role in nurturing my connection to our cultural roots, instilling in me a deep respect for the land and the traditions of our ancestors. The stories, values, and traditions of my Aboriginal heritage are a source of strength and pride, shaping my identity and guiding my path in life.