Born on Thursday Island in 1948, Vic McGrath is a scrimshawer and carver of pearl shells, dugong bone and turtle shell. McGrath’s shell objects were featured in the 2001 Brisbane exhibition “Gatherings, Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art from Queensland, Australia”. His artist statement in the accompanying catalogue reads, “My art is self-taught and strongly influenced by watching and learning from traditional craftsmen on Thursday Island where I grew up. I work exclusively with local marine material, particularly pearl shell and black coral, carefully assessed for natural colouring, grain and markings, before working my designs into each individual piece.”
This entry is a stub. You can help the DAAO by submitting a biography.
- Writers:
- Allas, Tess
- Date written:
- 2007
- Last updated:
- 2011
