Artist: Lisa Michl

Size: 1300mm x 1200mm

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Area: Central West Coast Cape York - QLD

Language: Kokoberrin

For thousands of generations Lisa's forefathers have created magnificent artifacts and craftworks including digging sticks, fire sticks, elaborate headdresses and body ornaments for ceremonies. Hand dyed and rolled ribbon from the Cabbage Palm Tree was also made into delicate handcrafted string bags.

During the 1960's Lisa's father traveled to Far North Queensland from Prague in the Chezh Republic it was here that he met Lisa's aboriginal mother. Lisa's grandfather on her mother's side was a traditional owner from Yarrabah just south of Cairns and her grandmother on her mothers side is from the Kokoberrin language group of Central West Coast Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.

It is said that the Kokoberrin language group are the traditional owners from the southern river bank of the Staaten River east to the Staaten River National Park north, including Dorunda Lodge and north to the Southern bank and three miles west of the Arafura Sea. For generations the Kokoberrin called this place Pinnarinch today it is known as Inkerman Station.

From a very young age Lisa was inspired by the traditional stories passed on to her by her grandmother. Soon Lisa developed a strong passion and cultural identity as a Kokoberrin woman. She began to learn about her people and found her place as a Kokoberrin person. Lisa spent much of her time with her aunt's and elders and it was at this time that she earned the respect of her elders and was handed down many spiritual gifts. Lisa soon began to express elements of these stories, spiritual gifts and experiences through a variety of visual arts mediums.

After studying an advanced diploma of visual arts at the Banggu Minjaany Art & Cultural Centre in Cairns Lisa went on to work as Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Arts Officer with TANKS Arts Centre, Cairns City Council. Lisa has also been involved with various visual arts boards like QIMAEA and is currently Chairperson of UMI Arts LTD PTY in Cairns.

Lisa has been exhibiting her artwork over the past 14 years and in the last 5 years Lisa has exhibited in Dsseldorf, Berlin, Washington and New York. Collectors of her work include the Queensland Art Gallery, German Australian Embassy, Australian Government ArtBank, institutional bodies and many private owners.

The latest collection of the internationally exhibited 30 year olds' large fine art paintings, are abstract designs which capture, the emotions, respect, observations and reflections influenced by Lisa's Kokoberrin customary lore and learning's.

Lisa is currently represented by Andrew Baker Art Dealer in Bowen Hills Brisbane, Hogarth Galleries in Paddington, NSW and Framed Gallery in Darwin, NT, Helen Maxwell in Canberra and Japingka Gallery in Fremantle.

Lisa was a finalist in the Kate Challis RAKA Award 2008