Jessi Muir | First Nations Artist

Jessi is a proud Wiradjuri woman, a surfer, a youth worker and and artist.

Here, she talks about what influenced her to start painting, how it’s led to a deeper awareness of her culture, and her plans to develop an art program for Aboriginal Youth in foster and out of home care.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

My name is Jessi Rebel Muir. I am a proud Wiradjuri woman, a surfer, an artist and a youth worker. I was born in Sydney, but I don’t hold much connection to that part of the country as my family and I moved to the small coastal town of Bonny Hills, on Biripai Country when I was 2 years old. I lived there until I was 22, and then packed my van up and moved south to Victoria. I currently live in Ocean Grove, on Wathaurong Country.

Who inspired you to start painting and what’s your earliest memory of it?

My Aunty Lisa was my biggest inspiration for creating art that reflects my Aboriginal culture, but I have always loved drawing and painting. My Aunty Lisa has painted for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories are of her painting terracotta pots with beautiful Aboriginal artwork. She would sell them at local markets. I also have to recognise a good friend and fellow artist, Laura Alice, who has quietly encouraged me to follow my creative journey. Her encouragement and advice have definitely helped me to pursue this.

Can you describe what dot styling painting is and its significance to Aboriginal culture?

Dot style painting is significant to the Central and Western desert Aboriginal communities. Each region of Aboriginal tribes has their own cultural protocols around the art that is being created from that region. It is a means of communication and story-telling, and also a very sacred and spiritual practice, which is why it is so valuable because the artworks share knowledge and truth of that tribe. There is so much more to Aboriginal art, that goes beyond the dot style painting.

Do you have a favourite theme for your paintings?

At the moment, probably anything that represents energy and connection to the earth around us.

What are your personal guiding values, and how are they reflected in the art you create?

I believe we were created with a connection to the earth and that we have a responsibility to care for and respect it in all of its beauty and chaos. I also have faith in God and feel drawn to being connected to something bigger than myself. I am learning how to reflect all of this together in my artworks, but I feel that at the moment, my artworks reflect a connection to the energy of the earth.

What influences your creativity?

Definitely other people’s creativity and their creative drive. For example, when I’m scrolling through Instagram and see someone else’s artwork, whether that’s a painting or a photograph, I get so excited to go and create something myself.

Do you have any rituals that help you get into the zone before you sit down to paint?

It might sound weird but I need the rest of the house to be clean and tidy otherwise I can’t focus. But other than that, a cuppa of some sort is essential. I usually have to be in the mood to paint though and I don’t like to force myself into it if I’m not feeling it.

How has painting led you to a deeper awareness of self and your culture?

I think I always knew that I was a creative being, but I just didn’t know what direction to take it in.

Years ago, my mum told me I should be a graphic designer, and I’ve put my hands to work with lots of different things, like drawing, film photography, and surfboard shaping, trying to find my creative flow as well as being able to express who I am through it. But nothing ever really stuck.

Personally, I am still learning so much about my culture and my own family’s history as there are so many pieces missing. I know it’s a long journey but I have felt so thankful to have my Aunty Lisa holding onto our story and sharing that through her artworks.

Being able to paint and learn about my culture has helped me feel really grounded in myself and given me the opportunity to follow a path that I hope will lead into giving back to others and sharing stories about my journey.

What do you wish to express through your paintings?

I’d like to start working on more personal pieces that reflect my own journey.

Other than that, probably just keep with the flow I’ve got at the moment, sharing about connecting to the earth around us.

What has been your favourite recent project / artwork you’ve created and why?

It’s not super recent but at the start of last year, my good friend asked me to create a piece of art to display at an event that was celebrating women in surf culture. At the time, I was in a bit of a flat state and feeling a little lost.

I was really ambitious and purchased a huge piece of calico fabric from Spotlight and just began to paint. I wanted the artwork to reflect my connection to the ocean and how it has always been a place where I go to clear my mind and escape for a bit. The artwork was titled, “Nguramba,” which means ‘deep’ in Wiradjuri.

It took me ages to do and I actually ran out of time to paint it as big as I wanted it to be, so I had to cut it down and just finish it up. But it was a real healing time for me, painting that artwork.

How do you see your art evolving over the next few years?

Honestly, I’m not sure! At the moment with work, I am developing an art program for Aboriginal youth in Foster Care and Out of Home Care, designed to help with emotional regulation and grounding strategies. I would really like my art to partner with my work and use it to empower youth and bring a more community-orientated focus around mental health issues, particularly for Aboriginal youth who are living away from Country and family.

I think whatever it becomes, I just really want to use it as an opportunity to empower others and give back. I don’t ever want creating art to just be a way to make money. I’d also really like to spend more time developing my skills and experimenting with different ideas and mediums, including digital art.

What would be your dream project?

I’d love to work on larger-scale projects, like doing a mural or something. But my dream project would be to create programs and opportunities to empower youth and bring awareness to mental health issues in communities.

What is the proudest moment in your journey so far?

Honestly, just believing in myself and taking the leap of faith to share my artwork, my culture and my personal journey through creating pieces of art.

What do you look forward to each day?
Hopefully surfing! But if I’m not surfing them I’m usually hanging out with my dog Asher or going for an adventure somewhere in my van. I love bushwalking and just being outside.

What do you look forward to each day?
Coffee...haha (but seriously). I love going for walks every morning with my dog and starting the day with being outside. I also look forward to quiet time! Sounds weird, but sometimes I’m really busy so I look forward to the moments where I don’t have anything to do and I can just chill with a cup of tea.

What other artists or creative people do you admire?

There’s so many! I’d love to use this space to share other Aboriginal artists and creative people, so here’s some of my favourites (I’m going to add their Instagram tags for people to suss):

- My Aunty, Lisa Evans (@onewavedesign)
- Otis Hope Carey (@otishopecarey)
- Niah Mcleod (@niahmcleod)
- Jay Bird (@jay.bird.artwork)
- Miimi & Jiinda (@miimiandjiinda)
- Lakkari Pitt (@lakkariart)
- Emma Hollingsworth (@mulganai)
- Lauren Freestone (@freestone_art)
- Kenita-Lee Mcartney (@matakupaatarts)
- Clothing The Gap (@clothingthegap)

How do you view the future of Aboriginal Art?

There’s heaps of contemporary art being created by Aboriginal artists to convey powerful messages about the struggles that Aboriginal people face every day in Australia. These artworks are part of the voice of Aboriginal Australia and a visual representation of the pain and suffering that has been endured since colonisation.

I think this is a huge part of the future of Aboriginal art, and social media is a valuable platform for projecting these messages. There are really awesome businesses that are using art to reclaim things, such as the Aboriginal flag, and I believe that the more art that is created that convey these messages, the more people are going to pay attention to the truth.