The First Nations Art Collection at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre showcases the depth, diversity and enduring strength of First Nations creativity across Queensland. Featuring major works by leading artists including Waanyi artist Judy Watson, Kamilaroi photographer Dean Saffron, and Yuggera and Biri artist Jody Rallah, the collection highlights the richness of cultural knowledge and contemporary practice across the state.
Brisbane has long been home to many of Australia’s most influential contemporary First Nations artists. Their presence within the Centre grounds the building in the stories, histories and artistic lineages of the local region, and of Queensland more broadly. These works honour the vital role First Nations artists play in shaping Queensland’s cultural landscape and ensure First Nations voices remain visible, celebrated and embedded within prominent public spaces.
Dean Saffron – All Shades Collection
Featuring 32 large-scale portraits by Kamilaroi artist Dean Saffron, this photography series captures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from across Queensland and the Torres Strait.
Each portrait is a collaboration, with participants choosing how and where they are represented, shaped by their own identities and experiences. As Saffron explains, “the people in these portraits are the storytellers.”
Created through extensive travel and commissioned by State Library Queensland, the project forms part of a lasting visual and oral history archive, now on view at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
