Bobbi Lockyer
Bobbi Lockyer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Port Hedland, Western Australia |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Website | bobbilockyer |
Bobbi Lockyer is an Aboriginal Australian artist, whose work has been showcased around the world. She was the 2025 official First Nations Artist of the Australian Open tennis series.
Early life and education
Bobbi Lockyer was born and raised in Port Hedland, which is situated in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia.[1] She is of Nyulnyul of Ngarluma, Kariyarra, and Yawuru descent.[2][3] She has said that her family was very creative; her mother and grandmother were "always creating".[4]
She was interested in art and painting from a very young age. As a young school student, a teacher advised Lockyer to "get her head out of the clouds" about her passion and childhood dream of becoming a painter or artist.[1]
Art practice and career
Lockyer's art is influenced by flora and fauna, including gum leaves and wattle or acacia flowers and leaves, and the pink hues of desert landscapes, as well as landscapes from the region she lives,[4] in remote Western Australia.[5]
Her work titled Bobbi Lockyer home collection was for sale in Woolworths, Big W, and other stores in 2024.[6]
Her art was displayed at a photo festival in western France, where 11 of her artworks, featuring children, landscapes, and Indigenous Australian faces, were shown in 2024.[7]
Lockyer was the 2025 official artist of the Australian Open tennis series.[8][9] Her art was featured on the Margaret Court Arena during the 2025 Australian Open.[1]
Recognition and awards
Lockyer's artwork has been showcased in Vogue magazine,[8] on Paris and New York runways,[6][10] as well as at Sydney Fashion Week in 2022.[11] As of 2021 she was an official creator for Nikon.[2]
Lockyer's awards and career highlights include the following:
- 2021: NAIDOC Artist of the Year[12]
- 2023: Artwork chosen as NAIDOC Week poster[12][13]
- 2025: Australian Open First Nations Artist[3]
Personal life
Lockyer uses her art to raise awareness and understanding of issues such as domestic violence,[14] racism, and birth trauma. She has used inspiration from being bullied at high school to influence her art and draw strength, finding healing from the creative process in painting and art.[15]
She has four sons and was living in Port Hedland in 2025.[16]
References
- ^ a b c "How artist Bobbi Lockyer proved her teachers wrong". ABC listen. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Bobbi Lockyer". NAIDOC. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Australian Open welcomes Bobbi Lockyer as 2025 First Nations artist". Australian Open. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ a b "WA artist captures attention of tennis legend at Aus Open". The West Australian. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Millions will see Bobbi's art at one of Australia's biggest sporting events". www.9news.com.au. 22 December 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ a b Blogg, Phoebe (29 November 2024). "Bobbi Lockyer launches new home décor collection". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Australian photographer celebrates indigenous heritage at French festival". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ a b Hislop, Madeline (21 January 2025). "The artist showcasing Aboriginal culture to the world at the Australian Open". Women's Agenda. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ Marouchtchak, Maria (3 February 2025). "Australian Open's 2025 First Nations Artist Bobbi Lockyer sits down with Style Up". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Pilbara trailblazer Bobbi Lockyer to design for Mauboy". North West Telegraph. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "Hedland creatives to light up Australian Fashion Week". North West Telegraph. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ a b "'Integral to our lives': Bobbi Lockyer's homage to Elders crowned as official NAIDOC Poster". NITV. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ Morse, Callan (11 May 2023). ""For Our Elders" - Bobbi Lockyer announced as NAIDOC Week poster competition winner". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ Dillon, Ben (6 May 2021). "Breaking through the barrier - International Women's Day". OwnerDriver. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ "As a child she was nicknamed 'dead rat'. As a woman she was assaulted. This is how Bobbi fought back". 7NEWS. 30 January 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
- ^ Brookes, Claire; Ottaviano, Sarah (13 February 2025). "'Fear is the mind killer': Worried locals bunker down ahead of monster cyclone". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 March 2025.