Story
Yuwaalaraay wirringgaa Lucy Simpson is Creative Director and Principal Designer / Maker behind Gaawaa Miyay; a First Nations process-led studio based practice inspired by country, relationships and notions of continuity + exchange.
Grounded in and guided by the timeless and sophisticated philosophies of First Nations design, Simpson’s Wangal / Sydney based multi-disciplinary practice connects to narratives of country through function, materiality and transfer; through a wide range of applications spanning commercial, conceptual, and community-based projects and collaborations across a wide range of media.
A graduate of UNSW Art and Design and current PHD Candidate at the University of Technology Sydney, both Lucy’s creative practice and research focuses on the continuing role of First Nations design as tool and conduit to baayangalibiyaay / interconnected notions of wellbeing (people and place).
In 2015, Lucy was recognised by the Australian Design Centre as an honouree of Australian Design, and has exhibited works at museums galleries and institutions locally and abroad, collaborating also on a range of projects for theatre shows at festivals and major venues across the city.
Established in 2009, Gaawaa Miyay is a 100% First Nations owned and operated studio and a certified supplier with Supply Nation and a proud member of the National Association of Visual Artists (NAVA).
CV
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2023 Holding Ground, Jackson Bella Room Commission, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
Baayangalibiyaay, Solo Show, Canberra Glassworks, Canberra
Melbourne Design Fair, Group Showing with Canberra Glassworks, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne
2022 Siteworks, Group Show, Bundanon Museum, Bundanon
Bankstown Bienale, Group Show, Bankstown Art Centre, Sydney
Handmade Universe, Group Show, State Library Victoria, Melbourne
Eucalyptusdom, Group Show, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney
2020 long water: fibre stories, Group Show, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane
Isolate Make, Group Show, Australian Design Centre, Sydney
Ngaliya Diyam / We Are Here, Group Show, Granville Art Centre, Sydney
2019 Linear, Group Show, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney
2018 Measured Response, Group Show, National Art School Gallery, Sydney
Local Colour, Group Show, UNSW Galleries, Sydney
2017 Walan Yinaagirbang (Strong Women), Group Show, Firstdraft Gallery, Sydney
2016 Dhuwi: Exhibition of Aboriginal Design, Solo Show, Australian Design Centre, Sydney
2015 Primavera: Young Australian Artists, Group Show, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
2013 CUSP: Designing into the Next Decade, Group Show, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Sydney
2012 Jugalbandi: Designed and Made in Australia and India, Group Show, National Institute of Design, India
2011 Design:Made:Trade, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne
2010 Matilda Australian showcase, Group Show, London Design Festival
2009 Design Now, Group Show, Object Gallery, Sydney; Melbourne Museum
ex.o.dus, Blacktown Arts Centre, Group Show, Sydney
AWARDS
2023 Shortlisted, NSW Architecture Awards, Small Project Category, Collaborative project with Claire McCaughan and Lucy Humphrey of Archrival
2022 Good Design Award, Best in Class, Aboriginal Culinary Journey (Breville)
2021 CODAawards, CODAworx International Top 100, Residential Category
2020 Sydney Design Awards, Graphic Design, Environmental Category, Ausgrid
2015 Australian Design Honours, Australian Design Centre
2014 Accelerate Participant, British Council
2009 Longina Phillips Textile Award, UNSW
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2023, Harvey, Jirra, How Powerhouse Designer Yuwaalaraay Woman Lucy Simpson is Making Waves, The Design Files
2020 Shim, Soo-Min, Declaring Presence:’Ngaliya Diyam’ at Granville Centre Art Gallery, Art Monthly Australasia
2018 Keens, Leta, ‘Look What We Made’, Frankie Magazine, April 1 2018
2012 Safe, Georgina, ‘Indigenous flair with feeling’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 September
Amodeo, Leanne, ‘New Generation: 10 Designers to Watch’, Monument Magazine, June/July
RECENT COMMISSIONS
2022 Textile Design, SS23/24, JAG
Environmental Graphics, Sharks, Australian Museum
Environmental Graphics, The Weaving Room, Museum of Sydney
Environmental Graphics, Great Southern Land, National Museum of Australia
Aboriginal Culinary Journey, Breville Australia
Textile Design, Dali Dyalgala First Nations Homewares and Soft Furnishing Range, Koskela
2021 Galuma-li (glass installation), Bloomberg, Sydney
2020 Bawuwan, Urban Art Projects, Park Sydney
2019 Baayangali, Ausgrid interior refurbishment, Concept Design, Roden Cutler House Sydney
Creative Hoardings, City of Sydney, Sydney LGA
Four Thousand Fish, Environemental Graphics and concept / object design, Sydney Festival
2017 QANTAS Curates Art Series
Westpac ‘Dyalgala’ Reflection Pods (woven collaborative interior installation)
2016 LendLease International HQ / Hassell Kilim Rug Project
‘Beautiful/Deadly MCA ARTBAR Curated Event
PRESENTATION + PUBLISHED ARTICLES
2023 Of Place, Gaawaa Miyay X Jag, Country to Couture, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair
2021 Caring for Indigenous Cultural Philosophies, Australian Institute of Architects
2020 From the Whispers to the Songs, long water: fibre stories, Exhibition Catalogue
2019 Indigenous Design Symposium, Sydney Design Festival, Sydney Observatory (MAAS)
2016 Recovering Voices, Smithsonian Natural History Museum, Washington US
Carrying Ngurrambaa, Peabody Museum, Harvard University, Boston USA
2015 Small is Beautiful Conference, Glasgow Scotland
2013 UflaUpla National Indigenous Textiles Forum, Centre of Contemporary Arts, Cairns
Selling Yarns National Indigenous Textiles Conference, National Museum of Australia, Canberra
2012 Make it New Again, National Institute of Design, Ahmadabad India
2009 Selling Yarns National Indigenous Textiles Conference, National Museum of Australia, Canberra
"Design is a tool, making a process, and art the narrative that connects us back to story and experience. Through my work I create, tell stories and interpret in ways that can often transcend words and language, flowing from deep within my bones. Winangaylana ngay mara, my hands remember
(their making continues)".
Gaawaa Miyay
Gaawaa Miyay was born from necessity. Creating media and communications through graphic design for First Nations communities in Gadigal (inner-west + inner-city Sydney) and Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay communities (north-west NSW) - from festival flyers and CD covers to student information posters, logos, uniforms and koori events, the Gaawaa Miyay studio practice has always been about self representation and connecting directly with community about local events and narratives. Over the past thirteen years, the studio practice has evolved to include textiles, accessories and homewares ranges; everyday objects with a story to share born of country + infused with the language and story of Yuwaalaraay ngurrambaa (family lands). More recently the studio practice has expanded to encompass First Nations representation and perspectives in non-Indigenous spaces through moments of exchange and transfer with a continuing theme of visual storytelling grounded in place / experience / ecological responsibility / relationships.
Yaama ngindaay..
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