Congratulations to Goulburn based, First Nations artist Aryssa McAlister,  who has just been announced as a finalist in the National Capital Art Prize for her work It’s not a phase, it’s a culture.

Aryssa McAlister is a self taught Aboriginal artist and a proud Wiradjuri woman. She works with many different mediums including canvas painting, digital art and clay. Through the Pejar Local Aboriginal Lands Council she facilitates educational workshops and painting activities to share her culture and art.
Aryssa has been creating for as long as she can remember but has only recently entered into the world of professional art having created her first commission piece back in 2018 and in 2019 she completed her first mural. She then went on to complete many commissioned works, including a body of work titled Gunda Maradhal (hidden past) that was displayed at The Goulburn Regional Art Gallery in 2022. Aryssa will feature in a solo exhibition at the STA Gallery online in September.

“So beyond stoked to that I have been chosen as a finalist at the @nationalcapitalartprize , I wish I had taken the photos of the days where I was so tired and my hands were cramping from keeping my hand in the same position whilst dotting! So happy and excited that my hard work paid off. “

“I’m grateful that Aboriginal art  is so popular right now” were the words I said to my partner when I saw Aboriginal themed bedspreads and pillow cases advertised online. Am I grateful or should our culture have always been this popular? I created this piece that flirts with traditional Aboriginal art and contemporary Aboriginal art. It’s titled ‘It’s not a phase, its a culture and you can find the title hidden in this piece, if you cant find it, maybe you’re not paying attention and maybe it’s just a phase/ The gold that runs through represents our connection to country and how we bleed for it.”