Blak Artists from Regional & Remote NSW at DAAF 2025
Join us on the journey as a powerful collective of First Nations artists from across NSW prepare to showcase their stories, culture, and creativity on the national stage at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair.
Meet the Artists
Jamie Lea Trindall
Tess Reading
Kerri-Ann Taggart
Kylie Caldwell
Tania Hartigian
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Artist | Designer | Cultural Leader
Jamie-Lea Trindall is a proud Wiradjuri woman, artist, designer, and Executive Director of Outback Arts, with over a decade of experience in arts and cultural strategy across remote communities of Western NSW. She is also the creative force behind Emu Empire, and a founding member of the Aboriginal Regional Arts Alliance (ARAA).
Graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Art Education (Sculpture, Installation & Photography) from UNSW College of Fine Arts, Jamie-Lea returned home to Wailwan Country to champion regional arts development. Recognised as one of Western NSW’s leading contemporary artists and curators, her multidisciplinary work spans fibre art, ceramics, printmaking, and installation, often exploring southeast colonisation impacts and honouring the strength of trailblazers in rural Australia.
Jamie-Lea blends ancient practices like carving and string-making with modern design, crafting deeply cultural, future-focused works that reflect connection to Country and community.
Graduating in 2009 with a Bachelor of Art Education (Sculpture, Installation & Photography) from UNSW College of Fine Arts, Jamie-Lea returned home to Wailwan Country to champion regional arts development. Recognised as one of Western NSW’s leading contemporary artists and curators, her multidisciplinary work spans fibre art, ceramics, printmaking, and installation, often exploring southeast colonisation impacts and honouring the strength of trailblazers in rural Australia.
Jamie-Lea blends ancient practices like carving and string-making with modern design, crafting deeply cultural, future-focused works that reflect connection to Country and community.
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Gomeroi Artist | Multidisciplinary Maker | Storyholder of Place
From her creative home at The Artshack @Wilgabah, Tania Hartigan creates deeply reflective and grounded works inspired by the beauty and spirit of Gomeroi Country.
Her multidisciplinary practice includes painting, portraiture, printmaking, sculpture, and weaving — with painting being her most instinctive and emotional medium. Tania’s connection to native plants, bush foods, and sacred sites informs every stroke and surface she works with.
Representing Regional and Remote NSW at DAAF 2025, Tania brings stories from land, light, and lineage to the national stage.
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Gomeroi Artist - Graphic Designer
Tess is a Gomeroi woman, artist, and graphic designer from Tamworth, dedicated to storytelling through art and cultural expression. Her diverse creative practice spans painting, photography, digital design, and animation, with exhibitions including Through Our Eyes (Armidale Cultural Centre & Keeping Place, 2021) and the Body of WorkTravelling Exhibition (2023–2024).
With a passion for expanding the accessibility and reach of her work, Tess manages her own in-house printing, overseeing the entire process from design to production. Now, through the ARISE Aboriginal Artists Development Program, she is refining her technical skills, exploring new printing methods, and strengthening her creative business.
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Wonnarua - Artist & Designer
Kerri-Ann Taggart, known as Kez, is a Wonnarua artist, illustrator, and graphic designer based in the Hunter Valley. A versatile digital creator, she also explores traditional mediums like ink and pencils, seamlessly blending storytelling, culture, and technical design.
Her work spans Traditional & Non Traditional art, with a strong focus on cultural storytelling, youth engagement, and community collaboration. Through her art workshops, Kez shares and explores culture creatively with young people and businesses, fostering deeper connections through artistic expression.
Kez’s portfolio includes high-profile commissions such as the Orica Reconciliation Action Plan artwork, Wonnarua-inspired sports jerseys, and illustrations for the book ‘SWATCHES’. She has also been recognized as the 2024 Wonnarua Artist of the Year and participated in the 2024 ARAA ‘Unique Identities’ Program.
With a passion for creating meaningful, adaptable designs, Kez continues to shape visual narratives that honor heritage, inspire learning, and amplify First Nations voices.
What is DAAF?
The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) is one of the most significant national events celebrating First Nations art, culture, and community. Held annually on Larrakia Country in Darwin, the fair brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art centres and independent artists from across Australia.
More than just a marketplace, DAAF is a cultural gathering — a place for Blak voices to shine through powerful exhibitions, performances, artist talks, fashion, and storytelling. It’s where culture is shared, celebrated, and supported on a national and international stage.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sounds like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest.
Why it Matters
DAAF provides vital visibility and economic opportunity for First Nations artists, helping to sustain living culture through ethical art sales and artist-led engagement.
For artists from Regional and Remote NSW, this platform represents:
Connection to a national network of artists and arts workers
Recognition for the depth and diversity of Blak creative practice
Celebration of local stories told through global-quality work
The 2025 fair will see artists from ARAA’s network stand alongside other First Nations creatives in a powerful show of solidarity, sovereignty, and cultural excellence.