Design and Art Australia Online

Painter Heather Blacklock, also known as Yorga, was born in 1965 in the small town of Beverly, approximately 130 kilometres south-east of Perth, Western Australia. She is one of ten children.

Her paintings are inspired by the stories told to her as a child by her grandfather, Angus Wallam. Her work is also informed by the past including her family history and that of the Aboriginal people of Western Australia.

Blacklock began exhibiting in group shows in 2005 in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia, and in 2007 she began showing her work in solo exhibitions. She has shown at the Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland, the Royal Brisbane Show and the Gift and Hardware Home Trade Show in Sydney. Her work has been exhibited in curated group shows in Western Australia including 'Spirit of Carrolup’ (2008) held at Mugart Boodja Art Gallery in Katanning, Western Australia. In 2009 she was included in two exhibitions, 'Noongar Koort Boodja – Noongar Heart Land’ at Gadfly Gallery in Perth and in 'The Legacy of the Koorah Coolingah (The Legend of Children Long Ago)’ at Brisbane’s Powerhouse Arts Centre.

Blacklock’s work is in the collections of Rio Tinto, Blackmores and the National Trust of Australia (NSW).

Writers:

Allas, Tess

Date written:

2009

Last updated:

2011