Design and Art Australia Online

Dorsey Smith of the Dunghutti and Gumbangerri people of the mid north coast of NSW was born in Kempsey in 1968. Smith was a member of a local Kempsey-based dance troupe that performed at many functions and rallies including the 1982 Land Rights Rally at NSW Parliament House. An image of Smith dancing at this rally taken by renowned photographer Juno Gemes was published in Nigel Parbury’s book, 'Survival : A History of Aboriginal Life In New South Wales’ (published 1986, Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs NSW).

Smith began his visual arts career in 1985 when he enrolled and completed a course in Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Practice at the Greenhill Reserve, Kempsey. Ten years later in 1996 Smith undertook a course in Koori Art and Design at Kempsey TAFE and in 2001 he continued his TAFE art schooling by enrolling at the Eora Centre for Performing and Visual Arts in Chippendale, Sydney. Graduating from Eora in 2004 Smith maintained his study when he was accepted into the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales (COFA, UNSW) and as at 2007 was still an active student there.

Smith is a member of Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative in Sydney and in 2005 Boomalli mounted his solo exhibition, 'Finding Me’. Related to Kempsey celebrated visual artists Robert Campbell Jnr and Milton Budge , Smith has work in the permanent collections of Nuragilli Aboriginal Education Unit at UNSW, the NSW Department of Education as well as private collections including that of artist Tracey Moffatt .

Writers:

Allas, Tess

Date written:

2007

Last updated:

2011