Phyllis Stewart, painter, drawer, shellworker and weaver was born in Berry, NSW on the 29th October 1954. Stewart has lived her whole life on the south coast of NSW and was residing in Gerringong in 2007. As with many south coast Aboriginal women, Stewart was taught the art of shellworking objects as a child, in particular miniature shoes, slippers and thongs.
Stewart is an artist member of the Boolarng-Nangamai Aboriginal Art and Culture Studio in Gerringong and it was here that Stewart learnt to paint and to weave. In an interview with the author Stewart said the main influences in her art practice are, “reflections on my life, my family, land and culture” and that she hopes her work will be a “legacy for my grandchildren and future generations to value Aboriginal culture.”
In 2000 Stewart, along with the other artist members of Boolarng-Nangamai, enrolled in the Aboriginal Art and Cultural Practices course at the Wollongong West College of TAFE and she completed Certificate IV in 2003. Stewart went on to complete her Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Visual Art in 2004 and 2005 respectively. In 2004 Stewart was awarded the TAFE Illawarra Indigenous Student of the Year Prize and in 2005 she was awarded the TAFE NSW Award for Academic Excellence.
Stewart has participated in many exhibitions since becoming a member of Boolarng-Nangamai including 'South Coast Weavers’ at the Long Gallery of the University of Wollongong and 'Pallingjang II’ at Wollongong City Art Gallery. In 2006 Stewart was a finalist in the 2006 Parliament of NSW Indigenous Art Prize with a shellworked “painting”. Stewart has three shellworks and an octopus sculptured weaving in the permanent collection of the Wollongong City Art Gallery that were purchased in 2002.
- Writers:
- Allas, Tess
Note:
- Date written:
- 2007
- Last updated:
- 2011
- Status:
- peer-reviewed
