Laurie Nilsen Estate | FireWorks Gallery

Artist Tabs

Selected works

FW10854 Do'n business	FW10038 Goolburris on the Bungil Creek	FW10183 There goes my neighbourhood III
FW10449 They call it progress	FW10450 We call it progress II	FW10924 The ten goolburis
FW11941 Jake	FW11943 Dolly	FW11963 Lily
FW12000 Dolly I	FW12061 Scar I	FW12062 Scar II
FW12064 Scar IV	FW12066 Scar VI	FW12082 Untitled

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Bio & CV

Image courtesy of Gerry O’Connor 2019

Laurie Nilsen
b.1953 Roma QLD – d.2020 Ipswich QLD
Country: Mandandanji

Laurie trained in sculpture and the graphic arts. Drawing, painting and mixed-media mediums all formed part of his practice. The artist often featured works with barbed wire encompassing cultural, political and environmental concerns. Although most of Laurie’s work tackled issues that concern Aboriginal people, he recognised these concerns also affect non-Aboriginal people. Humour and satire were prevalent throughout the artist’s repertoire. Laurie was a foundation member of the Campfire Group Artists in the early 1990s and a founding member of proppaNOW Artists Collective established in 2004. The artist was the recipient of numerous art awards including the 2007 Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award for the 3D installation titled Goolburis on the Bungil Creek. Laurie’s work is held in numerous private, corporate and public collections. In 1988, he was one of the first ‘urban’ Aboriginal artists to have work acquired by the National Gallery of Australia.

Story/Statement

PAINTINGS

The ten goolburis 2008
Homage to Warhol's The Ten Marilyns harks back to the artists ongoing interest in exploring popular culture through Indigenous sensibilities. From the artists' personal experience, several of the boundaries on Horton's Map of Aboriginal Australia are incorrect. Most have since been rectified by Aboriginal occupants…
The Artist, 2008

The work was reproduced with archival inks on paper and canvas during 2013-2015 in a limited edition series.

Running the Gauntlet 2007
The first big emu (my totem) was the aqua green work. I didn’t want the works to look just like pretty pictures, it loses context. I realised I needed to put the barbed wire into the painting, harking back to the same context as the emu sculptures.
The Artist, 2008

There goes my neighbourhood III 2007
Sometimes as I walk past these works, I find myself recognising characteristics of people in my own family...one photographer documenting my work in the Darwin Museum actually thought one of those big works looked like me!
The Artist, 2008

SCULPTURES & INSTALLATIONS

Fish Traps 2014
The trap is based on traditional fishing nets that you often see in the museums... Being an avid fisherman, I see this rubbish floating in and out of the river all of the time; and it's become a real problem...
The Artist cited in Michael Aird & Virginia Rigney, Saltwater Country, 2014. p44
The artist’s traps were exhibited in Saltwater Country (touring exhibition nationally & internationally) 2014-2017, Museums & Galleries Queensland and Gold Coast City Gallery.

Rabbit Traps 2013
Rabbit traps were first incorporated into the artist’s sculptural works in the 2010 cross series in the Trapped exhibition. More traps were included in the 2013 Unfinished games series in FireBrand I.

Unfinished games series 2013
The Unfinished games series (2013) was developed from the artist’s earlier (2010) Untitled cross series showcased in his solo exhibition Trapped at FireWorks Gallery. Notions of introduced species as a commentary on the social and spiritual entrapment of Indigenous people are explored in Unfinished games. The artist continues themes of crossing cultural boundaries through his fascination for combining rustic materials and fabricated objects. In 2013, he was a finalist in the TELSTRA National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award.

Same Canoe, different creek 2012
Same Canoe, different creek was first exhibited (under a different title) in the 2012 exhibition proppaNOW Studio Works, Montague Road Studio Space, Brisbane. An earlier version, Band Aid Solutions, of the artist’s barbed wire canoe sculpture was exhibited in 2003 at FireWorks Gallery in What have you done lately to change the Situation?.

Baited 2010
Baited was one of the featured works in the group exhibition String Theory: Focus on Contemporary Australian Art at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney in 2013.

Fresh water fishermen used many found objects to make shrimp traps. Traps were made out of onion sacks, large milk tins, roly poly bushes and gauze netting to name a few. Yabbies once trapped were then used as bait to catch Yellow Belly and Murray Cod. Sunlight soap was commonly used as bait for it was readily available and worked better than most other baits. Pedestal fan covers such as these weren’t available at the time when I used to fish but would have worked very well as traps.
The Artist, 2010

Cross series 2010
The artist is keen to dismiss these works as being interpreted as anti-Christian, providing the following reference by Phillip Pullman author of The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (2010) as quoted by Kathleen Noonan Courier Mail 1 May 2010.

Religion is at its best when it has no power, wields no authority and is poor.
Religion has done and continues to do many wonderful things in the world where people are poor and oppressed. Children have been educated, the poor fed.
Religion at its worst is when it lives in great places and has much power and wealth. When religion has its hands on the lever of power, then it is dangerous.
Then we have wars and corruption.
There is a certain amount of wisdom in all religions, except Scientology.

WORKS ON PAPER (limited editions)

Dollar Dilemma series 2020
“These (17) works on paper are based on the essential elements of the Aboriginal flag, the murri colours- red and black with a golden circle, but I’m utilising the ($1 and $2) gold coins instead of the central circle or sun.

With these works, I’m referring to a recent dilemma that is currently being discussed by lots of Aboriginal people, regarding the legal use of Harold Thomas’ original design for the Aboriginal flag and its commercial application. I thought if I make some graphic work about it, it will raise the subject and hopefully create some room for open debate and discussion.

Many people (both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal designers) are now being given ‘cease and desist’ letters if they use the flag image because Harold has sold his rights for the use of the design to a private company. This is particularly for use on clothing and commercial products. This iconic flag image is known throughout the world.

Ofcourse many people have had so much to say about this, but at the same time, the artist has every right to do this. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, just as the Harold is entitled to his own choices and commercial success as the original artist.

I guess for me as an artist who has lots of experience in the graphics industry this situation was a curious one, and it really is a dilemma now, for how people are reacting to the legal status of all this.

I spoke to Harold about his work many decades ago and he always said that he was happy for Aboriginal people to use the flag as they saw fit, and indeed, they do. Aboriginal people all over Australia have used the flag is a variety of ways. I guess I was always worried it would be commercialised in the way the Americans commercialise everything, perhaps this is the first stage of it?

At the end of the day, Harold is the artist and it’s his own artwork, so I guess he can do what he wants.”

The artist in conversation with Michael Eather 17 January FireWorks Gallery

Do'n Business & Emu dancers 2001
I was thinking about diabetes and introduced foods to Aboriginal society. By drawing elongated figures, I was representing what we were like before introduced foods, when weight wasn’t an issue. The Artist, 2008

Scar series 2010
The Scar series was also created as part of the Trapped (2010) exhibition. Here the artist investigates the knot through softer colours on paper which contrast starkly with the harshness of barbed wire. Different mediums are used throughout the series to include pastel, watercolour and/or mixed media. Laurie’s drawings reflect back to earlier years when the artist worked on the land, fencing.

Signage series 2012
The Signage series were created for From the Bush III (Regeneration) at FireWorks Gallery.

… introducing city people (to barbed wire) who may not normally come in contact with it. I always see it as a boundary thing, so you know, it’s good that it’s outside rather than inside a building.
The Artist, 2016

Signage I and Signage VI were both shown in the exhibition Insurgence (with ProppaNOW Artists Collective), Museum of Australian Democracy Old Parliament House, Canberra 2013.

Courtesy of the Artist & FireWorks Gallery

LAURIE NILSEN

Born: 1954 Roma QLD

Country: Mandandanji

Region: Roma QLD

EDUCATION

1973-75 Certificate in Commercial Illustration Queensland College of Art Brisbane

1988-89 BA (Visual Arts) Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education Victoria

1995-2019 Lecturer Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art Griffith University Brisbane

EXHIBITIONS—SOLO (SELECTED)

2020 Laurie Nilsen: One Day at a Time FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2013 Firebrand I: In Focus Laurie Nilsen and Michael Nelson Jagamara FireWorks Gallery

2012 From the Bush III (Regeneration) FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2010 Trapped FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2008 Laurie Nilsen FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1999 Udungallo (Bungil Creek) Dreamtime Gallery Santa Fe New Mexico USA

1998/99 Udungallo (Bungil Creek) FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1996 Barbed Wire Boundaries FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1995 Claypan Series Dreamtime Gallery Santa Fe New Mexico USA

EXHIBITIONS—GROUP (SELECTED)

2024 Yellow Meadow FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2023 proppaNOW: There goes the neighbourhood Vera List Centre New York USA

2023 Gone Fishing QAGOMA, Brisbane

2023-24 proppaNOW: Occurrent Affair (Touring Exhibition)

2023 Morbid Curiosities FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2023 Halfway House FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane

2022 Hardwired: Laurie Nilsen, Lin Onus & Vincent Serico FireWorks Gallery

2021 proppaNOW: Occurrent Affair University of Queensland Art Museum

2019 Sculptors Exposed Pine Rivers Art Gallery

2018 Urban Walkabout Alien(n)ation Cooee Art Gallery Sydney

2018 Welcome to Thompson Street FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2017 A SWEEP continues: Old & New Works FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2014-17 Saltwater Country travelling exhibition developed in partnership between Museums & Galleries Queensland and Gold Coast City Gallery. Curated by Michael Aird and Virginia Rigney. Gold Coast City Gallery, Australian Embassy Washington USA, AAMU Museum of Contemporary Aboriginal Art Utrecht Netherlands, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum, Cairns Regional Gallery, Grafton Regional Art Gallery, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery, State Library of Queensland.

2016 Second Nature FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2015 15 Artists Redcliffe City Art Gallery QLD

2014 Melbourne Art Fair Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne

2014 Cross Over Merricks House Art Gallery Victoria

2013 Gold Coast Art Prize Gold Coast City Gallery Gold Coast

2013 Insurgence (with proppaNOW Artists Collective) Museum of Australian Democracy Canberra

2013 String Theory: Focus on Contemporary Australian Art Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney

2013 28th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory Darwin

2011 proppaNOW: A social history of Queensland’s leading Aboriginal art collective State Library of Queensland Brisbane QLD

2011 existence resistance The Bega Valley Regional Gallery Bega NSW

2010 Undiluted USQ Arts Gallery Toowoomba QLD

2010 Eclectica 1 FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2010 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Tanks Arts Centre and Cairns Regional Gallery Cairns QLD

2010 Melbourne Art Fair Royal exhibition building Melbourne

2010 Just Drawn (with proppaNOW Artists Collective) Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts Melbourne

2009 Putsch (with proppaNOW Artists Collective) Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute Adelaide

2009 Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture Object Gallery Sydney

2008 Blue: a group exhibition FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2007 The Amersham Trophy (with proppaNOW Artists Collective) Ambleside Street Studio Brisbane

2007 70% Urban National Museum of Australia Canberra

2007 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory Darwin

2007 Friendly Fire proppaNOW Artists Collective George Petelin Gallery Gold Coast QLD

2006 two way: artists and mentors FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2006Thick and Fast (with proppaNOW Artists Collective) Powerhouse Museum Brisbane

2005 SHOOSH! A History of the Campfire Group Institute of Modern Art Brisbane

2005 Smoke: Campfire Group and other Commissioned works FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2005 Smoke: Campfire Group and other Commissioned works Despard Gallery Hobart

2004 Voices Stories (NEWflames artists and mentors) RGAQ touring exhibition

2004 Sculpture 2004 Maunsell Wickes Gallery Sydney

2004 Sculpture in the Vines Millfield Wines Lower Hunter Valley NSW

2003 What have you done lately to change the situation? FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2003There Goes My Neighbourhood Ambleside Street Studio Brisbane

2002 Paddy Carroll Tjungurrayi Tribute Show FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2002 Urban Blackness Noosa Regional Gallery Noosa QLD

2002 Six Coats of Black FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2002 Lines II FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2001 A Few Good Men FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

2000 Ideas of Landscape Powerhouse Museum Brisbane

2000 Landmarks Powerhouse Museum Brisbane

1999 Big Smoke (with Campfire Group) Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Sydney

1999 Respect Institute of Modern Art Brisbane

1998The National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Award Touring Exhibition

1998 Fireworks on Paper FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1998 Campfire Group Print Folio FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1998 Art of Place Australian Heritage Commission – National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award Exhibition Old Parliament House Canberra

1998 Eco-Dea Griffith University Brisbane Austrade Conference Multi Media Exhibition Paul Getty Museum Los Angeles USA

1997 Absolut Chalk Pasadena City Hall Los Angeles USA

1997 Ochres FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1997 Interference (with Campfire Group) Institute of Modern Art Brisbane

1997 Black Humour Touring Nationally

1997 Brisbane vs Essendon FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1997 Engine: the Best of the Campfire Group FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1997 Wild Kingdom Institute of Modern Art Brisbane

1997 Guitar Show Tamworth Regional Gallery Tamworth NSW

1996 All Stock Must Go! - The Second Asia Pacific Triennial (with Campfire Group) Queensland Art Gallery Brisbane

1996 Saltwater Freshwater Borewater (with Campfire Group) RGAQ Touring Exhibition

1996 Totems Environmental Sculpture Blue Mountains NSW

1995 Seven Deadly Australians FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1995 Robin O’Chin Memorial Art Award Queensland Aboriginal Creations Brisbane

1995 Welcome (with Michael Eather) Institute of Modern Art Brisbane

1994 Political Boats FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1994 Craft Exhibition Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative Sydney

1994 600 000 Hours (Mortality) Experimental Art Foundation Adelaide

1994 Urban Focus National Gallery of Australia Canberra

1994 Dam(n) Wall Courtyard Installation (Collaboration with Charleen Teeters – 1994 1994 Spokane Indian) Institute of American Indian Art Santa Fe New Mexico USA

1993 Indigenous Year Exhibition Caboolture Shire Council Hall Caboolture QLD

1993 Stories: Contemporary Australian Aboriginal Art Karava Art Museum, Rovniemia Art Museum & Turku Art Museum, Finland

1993 Political Bedrooms FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1993 Aboriginal Perceptions 1963-1993 Brisbane City Gallery Brisbane

1993 Botany Aboriginal Art Awards Sydney

1993 Fire-Brand FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1993 Political Works FireWorks Gallery Brisbane

1991 Campfires at the Waterhole Spring Hill Baths Gallery Brisbane

1990 Balance 1990: Views Visions Influences Queensland Art Gallery Brisbane

1989 Grand Prix Exhibition Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute Adelaide

1989 Stephen Kellner Aboriginal Art Awards Museum of Victoria Melbourne

1988-89 Student Sculpture Exhibitions Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education Churchill Victoria

1987 Grand Prix Exhibition Adelaide College of Advanced Education Adelaide

1985 Aboriginal Art Show Brisbane City Hall Gallery Brisbane

1983-86 Community Exhibitions Brisbane and Southern Queensland

AWARDS

2007 WINNER Telstra Wandjuk Marika 3D Memorial Award Wandjuk Marika Three-Dimensional Memorial Award Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory Darwin

2001 1st PRIZE Robin O’Chin Award Open Section

1989 Inaugural Stephen Kellner Aboriginal Art Award

1989 South Queensland Aboriginal Artist of the Year

1987 Queensland Aboriginal Artist of the Year

1986 Queensland Aboriginal Artist of the Year

COMMISSIONS

2017 Maiwar Brisbane City Council QLD

2016 Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards – Installations, WA, Perth

2015 Emus at the Roundabout Private Commission Tamworth NSW

2009 Deebing Creek Level 1 Courtroom, Ipswich Court House QLD

2008 Untitled Bronze Native Bee Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Cootha QLD

2006 Untitled Concrete and Timber Relief State Library of Queensland (North Wall Indigenous Knowledge Centre) Brisbane

2003 Political Piranha (Aluminium Fish/Water Feature) Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre

2002 Bungil Creek mural Dogwood Crossing Murilla Shire Council Miles QLD

2000 Journey Tracks 4x4xmore (with Campfire Group) Motorama Showroom Brisbane

2000 Cultural Debris Public Art Commission Brisbane City Council Roma Street Brisbane

1999 Connecting Worlds (with Campfire Group) Homebush Hotel murals Olympic Games Sydney

1999 Bungaree Bronze Bust Mosman Town Council Sydney

1997 Maroochy Art Awards 1st Prize Indigenous Section

1998 Mural FAIRA & QANTM Training Centre Brisbane

1998 Sculpture Musgrave Park NAIDOC Day Committee Brisbane

1998 Sculpture Hargrave Park Brisbane City Council Public Art Program Brisbane

1995 Cover Design Meeting and Conventions Guide Brisbane Visitors Convention Bureau

1994 Aboriginal Art Trail Public Art Project Brisbane City Council Sandgate and Inala Brisbane

1993 Aboriginal Art Trail Public Art Project Brisbane City Council Mt Cootha Brisbane

1987 National Aboriginal & Islander Poster Competition

1985-95 Various Poster Designs Book Illustrations for Queensland Education Department Numerous public & school murals

PUBLISHED MATERIAL, INTERVIEWS & PERFORMANCES

2014-17 Saltwater Country travelling exhibition (Publication)

2013 String Theory: Focus on Contemporary Australian Art Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney (Publication)

2010/11 FireWorks Gallery (Publication)

2009 proppaNOW 2004-2008 (Publication)

2009 Menagerie: Contemporary Indigenous Sculpture Object Gallery Sydney (Publication)

2008 Laurie Nilsen FireWorks Gallery Brisbane (Exhibition Catalogue)

2007 Ashley Crawford Laurie Nilsen: Birds on a Wire Australian Art Collector Issue 42Pg 149-153 (Article)

2006 Gatherings II Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art from Queensland Australia (Publication)

2006 Bob Dempsey in public dialogue with Laurie Nilsen Totems and turtles: making indigenous art in the 21st century ABC Radio National 5 May (Interview)

2006 Laurie Nilsen Collaborations/Cross-disciplines/Strange Bedfellows QCA Research Forum (Speaker)

2005 Michael Eather SHOOSH! A History of the Campfire Group Institute of Modern Art Brisbane (Exhibition Publication)

2005 Michael Eather Smoke: Campfire Group and other Commissioned works Despard Gallery Hobart (Exhibition/Web Essay)

2004 Voices Stories (Exhibition Catalogue)

2003 Linda Carroli Open Hearted Open Handed Open Minded (Commissioned Essay)

2002 Urban Blackness (Exhibition Catalogue)

2002 ABC A Year on the Wing online documentary Laurie Nilsen Special Guest

2001 Gatherings I Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art from Queensland Australia (Publication)

2001 Dreamtime Sammlung Essl Klosterneberg Austria (Performance)

2001 Linda Carroli On the Tropic of Capricorn: Walala Tjapaltjarri & Campfire Group Sculptures from the Tingari Cycle (Catalogue Essay)

1998 Stephanie Radok Black Humour Artlink Volume 18 Number 3 (Article)

1997 Saltwater Freshwater Borewater (Exhibition Catalogue)

1997 Black Humour (Exhibition Catalogue)

1995 All Stock Must Go! The 2nd Asia Pacific Triennial (Publication)

1990 Balance Views Visions Influences (Publication)

COLLECTIONS

National Gallery of Australia Canberra

Australian Museum Sydney

National Museum of Australia Canberra

Museum of Victoria Melbourne

Queensland Museum

State Library of Queensland

Object: Australian Design Centre Sydney

Education Department of Queensland Brisbane

Bond University Gold Coast

Griffith University Art Collection

Redland Art Gallery Brisbane

Baillieu Myer Sculpture Garden Mornington Peninsula

Various Private & Corporate Collections Australia, Austria & USA

Past exhibitions

SOLO

HARDWIRED: Laurie Nilsen 2022

One Day at a Time 2020

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