Today we chat to Indigenous artist, Karen Lee Mungarrja. Known for storytelling through art, she paints about her culture and the representation of life.
You may have even seen some of Karen’s work — perhaps in a shopping centre or on a box of chocolates! Come along as she shares her contemporary Indigenous art with us.
Related article: Contemporary still life from Alexandra Strong Art
Related article: One to watch: Musonga Mbogo and his intuitive street art
It’s always been family first for Karen, with her talent for art being discovered later in life.
“First and foremost, I am a mother. I have 3 amazing children and 5 wonderful grandchildren with a new addition due in August,” Karen tells us with a smile.
“This new baby is a beautiful gift, after losing my husband, Troy — my best friend and biggest fan — last September. This was a big loss for our family.
“I have lived in the Penrith area for most of my adult life. It is home and a place that holds many memories.
“Before art, I owned a cleaning franchise. I don’t mind cleaning and it was a great income that provided flexibility when the children were young. It’s certainly not glamorous, but meant I was able to be there for drop off and pick up, and attend most school events which was most important to me.
I believe everything you do gives you experience in ways that may not be obvious.
“Managing my business and home life provided me with skills that I incorporate into my art practice today.”
Her pathway to art wasn’t the easiest, or the quickest!
“I had always wanted to further my studies and originally, I thought I would pursue music. I studied music and was a vocal teacher before my business, but being physically restricted to attend classes was no longer suitable for me,” says Karen.
“Instead, I explored the idea of an arts degree. I have always loved art and don’t remember a time where I haven’t spent my time drawing.
“I was able to do my degree — in Fine Art and Visual Culture — online, and so my journey began. It took me six years to complete! Now that I can look back on that time, I honestly don’t know how I managed it! It was a lot of late nights working well into the early hours to complete works for submission.
“A degree doesn’t teach you to be an artist. Anyone can learn to paint. But what it did was expose me to different styles and concepts, giving me a deeper understanding of the role art plays in society, the meaning of art, its stories and the representation of life.
I believe it gave my work more depth and a greater ability to merge the important stories of my culture with the contemporary ideas of today.
Her storytelling through art has led to exciting projects in the commercial and corporate world.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with clients in commercial and corporate spaces. Working with an iconic brand such as Cadbury for the 2022 Roses boxes and tins was a real wow moment,” Karen recalls excitedly.
“But to be honest, every opportunity to work with clients and bring their vision and values together with cultural stories is a really amazing experience. Any opportunity to bring people together through my art is a privilege.”
Big thank you to Karen for sharing her storytelling through art and contemporary Indigenous style with us. You can discover more of Karen’s work on her Instagram page. Her works are for sale on Bluethumb Art.
Discover more artists here
