Jo-Anne Driessens | FireWorks Gallery

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Selected works

FW16435 Women performers...	FW16437 Cherbourg boys	FW16438 Ranji Buchanan and Tyrone Walker...
FW16439 Deborah Mailman	FW16470 Duncan Johnson and Sam Watson...	FW16471 Group rehearsal...
FW16473 Reconciliation Bridge Walk, Brisbane	FW16474 Stevie McKinless, Dar Festival...	FW16475 DAR Festival, King George Square
FW17229 Cherbourg girl...

Bio

Jo-Anne was raised in Brisbane, Queensland and is a Guwa-Koa, Gungarri, Kuku Yalanji descendant. Having completed a photography cadetship in 1999 at the State Library of Queensland, Jo-Anne continued working as a photographer and also across various arts and curatorial specialised roles including archival and anthropological research; exhibition programs and Aboriginal Family history support. These skills have and continue to provide a holistic approach towards specialised creative projects since the mid-90’s.

Courtesy of Jo-Anne Driessens 2026

Story/Statement

UPCLOSE EXHIBITION 2015-2016
My relationship with the camera was as instant as the classic polaroid type and photography has been a big part of my journey towards locating my Aboriginal family and understanding the wider community. Having been adopted into a white family, there was always an urge to understand my Aboriginal identity.

Documenting the Aboriginal community around Brisbane assisted me in learning aspects around social documentary and connecting community to significant istorical images kept in public collections. Photographing community became an important role and one that provided a personal tool for connecting with blood relatives for the first time through the lens of my first SLR camera.

Through a four year photographic cadetship at the State Library of Queensland and total darkroom time of six years, I was given a once in a lifetime opportunity where I was reproducing 100 year old images of my ancestors and on the other side of the door continue to document history through my own camera.

They say not to open darkroom doors while printing, however the darkroom doors that I have been through have opened up and literally enlightened my journey for identity leading me directly to my Aboriginal family. I will always continue to document my family and the wider community with the hope that one day my mages will end up next to the 100 year old images, proving that recent history is as important as the old history.

Courtesy of the Artist 2015

JO-ANNE DRIESSENS

Born: 1970, Brisbane, Queensland

EDUCATION

1999 Diploma of Photography, Southbank Institute of TAFE, Brisbane
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40110), Bremer TAFE, Ipswich

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2014 Black & Write, State Library of Queensland
2012 Official Photography, Yugambeh Museum redevelopment launch
2005 The Birthing Circle, Yugambeh Museum
2004 Women & Freedom, Amnesty International Australia (photographic works)

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024 New Light: Photography Now + Then, Museum of Brisbane
2022 Stories from Here, Tony Gould Gallery, Queensland Performing Arts Centre
2021–22 Viewpoints: Contemporary Aboriginal Photography, State Library of Queensland
2020 TWENTY: Two Decades of Queensland Photography, online exhibition
2018 Salt Marsh Whispers, Redland Art Gallery
2015 UP CLOSE, FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane
2014 CyberTribe: Sights from Sirens, Kawasaki City Museum, Japan
2009 The Other APT, Centre Culturel Tjibaou, Nouméa
2008 The Other APT, Brisbane

MAJOR COMMISSIONS & PROJECTS

2024–25 Cultural Advisor, Wayne Coolwell Showcase, State Library of Queensland
2024–25 First Nations Curator and Cultural Advisor, Carbon_Dating exhibition
2020 Photography documentation for Fiona Foley's Research Reveals: Bogimbah Creek Mission, State Library of Queensland
2014–15 Clancestry Living History Project, Queensland Performing Arts Centre
2014 Black & Write, State Library of Queensland
2013 Deepen the Conversation: Transforming Tindale, State Library of Queensland
2013 Official Photographer, Clancestry Festival, Queensland Performing Arts Centre
2013 Official Photographer, Stylin' Up Festival
2013 Official Photographer, Fête de la Musique, Brisbane City Council
2013 Portrait commission of Minjerribah Aboriginal Elders, Redland City Council
2012 Cherbourg Ration Shed Timeline documentation
2009 Brisbane Festival – Brisbane to Barambah documentation
2006 Official Photography for Fiona Foley, Signpost projects

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2022–24 Official Observer, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore, Geneva
2020 Australia Council for the Arts, Custodianship participant
2017–19 Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation, Cultural Keepers Curators Program
2016 Museums Australia Leadership Program
2015 Indigenous Arts Leadership Program, National Gallery of Australia

AWARDS

1999 Canon Overall Folio Award, Southbank Institute of TAFE / State Library of Queensland Photography Cadetship
1999 Robin O Chin Memorial Art Award (Winner)

WORKSHOPS

2013 Official Photographer, Arts Northern Rivers Artist Workshops with Richard Bell, Vernon Ah Kee and Bronwyn Bancroft.

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