Black Magic
28 September - 19 October 2022

Artereal Gallery is excited to present a solo exhibition of new paintings and works on paper by Maddison Gibbs.

Both an artist and activist, Maddison Gibbs is a proud Gunu Baakandji woman who grew up in Dubbo and currently lives and works between Sydney and Kandos, NSW. A fast emerging artist gaining attention for the balance of poetry and politics that underpin her work, Gibbs’ practice examines dual histories – focusing on stories of past and present  Aboriginal societies and spirit.

Since her first solo exhibition with Artereal Gallery in 2021, Maddison Gibbs has established herself as an artist to watch and take note of. She was recently awarded the Muru Award as part of the 2022 HIDDEN Rookwood Sculpture Prize and was also the winner of the 2021 Yapang Emerging Art Prize at Lake Macquarie Gallery.

A multidisciplinary artist, Gibbs works across a wide spectrum of cultural praxis, utilising many methods and ideologies. Current thematics include  intergenerational stories of contemporary Aboriginal affairs – with a spotlight on telling women’s narratives.

(To view and purchase artworks from this series, including pricing details,
scroll to the end of this online exhibition page).

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“I see these new works as a series of “pretty protest placards” consisting of protectors, watchers, warriors and keepers of culture…”

I have collected roots, leaves, sticks, nuts, and flowers on country. All of these items were fallen from trees destroyed by fires or washed up on the banks of rivers and water sources from flooding. The aftermath and destruction from natural (or not so natural) disasters.
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The awakening began when these lost objects were reunited with culture and reciprocal energy. It was like they were a lost family finding  each other. My role was to reconnect them. The mystical beings almost created themselves.
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The spirit figures are the Black resistance warriors that were forcibly removed, separated and taken from their homes and country and are still continuing the fight. They are the watchers over country and culture. In the times where we look for strength and guidance from our ancestors, the warriors are there, holding knowledge in the stars, the wind, the moon, the water, the intangible beings that live amongst us and have lived within us for thousands of years.
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The splatter method is a continuation of cultural practice. The works are restorative in nature. Mystical beings that honour the past and reclaim the Black future. Finding the beauty and magic in the reawakened knowledge…
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Maddison Gibbs
Artist Statement, 2022

Artist Biography

Maddison Gibbs is a proud Barkindji woman who grew up in Dubbo, NSW. She currently lives and works between Sydney and Kandos, NSW.

Both artist and activist, Maddison Gibbs practice examines dual histories – focusing on stories of past and present  Aboriginal societies and spirit. A multidisciplinary artist, Gibbs works across a wide spectrum of cultural praxis, utilising many methods and ideologies. Current thematics include  intergenerational stories of contemporary Aboriginal affairs – with a focus on telling women’s narratives.

Maddison Gibb’s work is polarising, offering up culturally feminine intuitive visual poetics which at times starkly contrast with her art activism at the barricades. The dual sensitivities of caring for a country and fighting injustice is an interesting tension and one that is explored through out Gibbs practice.

“My artworks are based on my culture, people and surroundings, they tell stories of past and present by using contemporary methods and ideologies. My works include political statements and educational information regarding Aboriginal issues, a subject which I am extremely passionate about. I use different mediums for my works including drawing, ceramics, printmaking and animation.”

Having previously studied Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts at Eora College in Sydney, Maddison Gibbs recently completed a Bachelor of Animation at the University of Technology Sydney.

An emerging artist whose practice has recently begun to garner significant attention, Maddison Gibbs’ artworks have been included as part of Vivid Festival, Sydney Fringe Festival, Hobiennale at Moonah Arts Centre in Tasmania and the 2020 Bankstown Biennale. Her work was also included in group exhibitions Here I am at Ambush Gallery (2020) and No Show at Carriageworks (2021). Recent artist residencies include the Inner west council EDGE greenway residency (2021), the Cementa21 first nations residency (2021), and the Australian Antarctic division residency (2019).

Working regularly on a multitude of public art murals, Maddison Gibbs also worked on the restoration of the 40,000 years mural at The Block, Redfern, and was recently commissioned to create a large-scale public artwork for the new Eveleigh Precinct in Sydney. In 2019 she was the recipient of the Australian Museum’s prestigious Young Indigenous Artist Fellowship and she has also been awarded the Rotary Club of Sydney Soukup Animation Grant and the Bob Morgan International Scholarship.

Most recently in 2022, Gibbs’ has exhibited as part of: Where shadows meet, a group show at Casula Powerhouse; The dingo Project a group exhibition at Ngununggula in the Southern Highlands; and as part of Cementa Festival. She has also been a finalist in the Blacktown Arts Prize (2021) and has completed numerous public art commissions. Upcoming projects and exhibitions include: Ngayirr Ngurambang: Sacred Country at Mudgee Regional Gallery; Nura- Deep listening to country at Cement Fondu;
Undercurrents at Penrith Regional Art Gallery and Dyrubbin at Hawkesbury Regional Art Gallery.

Click on the below images to enlarge.

All prices are in Australian Dollars. Framing and shipping costs not included. Please contact the gallery for assistance with framing and shipping. Prices are correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice. For sales enquiries email: info@artereal.com.au

Maddison Gibbs

Star dust settles

2022
acrylic on canvas
71 x 56cm
$1,500 (SOLD)
Maddison Gibbs

Wax and wane

2022
acylic on canvas
61 x 50cm
$1,100 (SOLD)
Maddison Gibbs

Walking on water

2022
acrylic on canvas
110cm x 110cm
$1,900
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

The answers are all here

2022
acrylic on canvas
61 x 50cm
$1,100
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Smoke has settled

2022
acrylic on canvas
71cm x 56cm
$1,500 (SOLD)
Maddison Gibbs

Rise from the ashes

2022
acrylic on canvas
110cm x 110cm
$1,900
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Protector of the moon

2022
acrylic on canvas
110 x 110cm
$1,900
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Moon dancers

2022
acylic on canvas
110 x 110cm
$1,900
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Floating in two worlds

2022
acyrlic on canvas
61 x 50cm
$1,100 (SOLD)
Maddison Gibbs

Fire Warrior

2022
acrylic on canvas
110 x 110cm
$1,900
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Embers

2022
acrylic on canvas
61 x 50cm
$1,100 (SOLD)
Maddison Gibbs

Celestial

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Eclipse

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Eclipse 2

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Fire Warrior 2

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed (SOLD)
Maddison Gibbs

Floating in two worlds

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Freedom Flyers

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Galaxy Guardian

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Moondance

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
60 x 84cm
$700 unframed
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Smoke has settled

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Sun shower

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed
Buy Now
Maddison Gibbs

Walking on water

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed (SOLD)
Maddison Gibbs

Wax and Wane 2

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed (SOLD)
Maddison Gibbs

When the star dust settles

2022
acrylic on stonehenge paper, 240gsm
84 x 60cm
$700 unframed
Buy Now

Upcoming Exhibition

main gallery
Kate Vassallo
1 March - 29 March 2025

Previous Exhibition

main gallery
Group Show
22 November - 14 December 2024