Ray Thomas b. 1960

  • Artist (Painter)
Melbourne-based Gunnai painter whose works are inspired by Gunnai stories and designs and his sense of affinity with Gippsland country. His works also respond to contemporary political issues of relevance to Aboriginal people.
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Ray Thomas, born 1960, is a Gunnai painter of the Brabralung clan. Thomas began painting in the 1980s when he contributed to a number of Aborigines’ Advancement League murals in Melbourne. In 2002 he was commissioned to create a kangaroo design for a silver dollar produced by the Royal Australian Mint. His paintings are inspired by Gunnai stories and designs, his sense of affinity with Gippsland country (in eastern Victoria), and also respond to contemporary political issues of relevance to Aboriginal people. Exhibitions have included “Power of the Land: Masterpieces of Aboriginal Art” at the National Gallery of Victoria (1994), “Native Title Business”, which was toured nationally by the Regional Galleries Association of Queensland (2002-2005), and the solo exhibition “Secret-Sacred Country” (2002) at the Alcaston Gallery in Melbourne.

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Writers:
Fisher, Laura
Date written:
2008
Last updated:
2011

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Related stub person groups
  • Aborigines' Advancement League (associate of)
  • Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, VIC (associate of)
Related people
  • Onus, Lin (associate of)
Related works
  • Brabraloong Country (creator of)
  • Waiting by the Lake for Native Title (creator of)
  • Yiruk (Wilson's Promontory) (creator of)
Related collections
  • Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre, Melbourne Museum, VIC (collected in)
  • National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT (collected in)
  • National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC (collected in)
Related recognitions
  • Royal Australian Mint Commission for 2003 Kangaroo Silver Coin Design (received)
  • NAIDOC Koori Artist of the Year (received)
Related events
  • 20th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award (exhibited at)
  • Power of the Land (exhibited at)
  • Native Title Business: Contemporary Indigenous Art (exhibited at)
  • Secret Sacred Country (exhibited at)