Marley Smith
Marley Smith is a local Aboriginal artist who was born in Ballarat and has lived here her whole life. She has strong ties with her family and is connected to local customary and cultural stories. The power in Marley’s work comes from the distinctive local cultural stories and symbols and the embedded meaning in each piece.
How would you describe yourself and your practice?
l am very proud of my culture and my people and l express this in most of my artworks. I feel very drawn to local Ballarat stories and to bring this knowledge to our community. I love that people can experience culture by seeing the artworks created by many talented artists here.
What inspires you to make your art?
As a child growing up here, l explored the area far and wide, animals, nature, the earth and its people. l have travelled most of Victoria, and have met a lot of interesting people and feeling inspired by how others see the beauty of this land. Listening to the elders of this land when they speak of stories handed down to them from their ancestors is a privilege and an honour, it makes us remember how far we have come. Being in a large family myself, l have heard many stories of how our people were misjudged and mistreated, that was the most hardest thing l have ever tried to put on canvas. Reconciliation and closing the gap is support, acknowledgement and respect that everyone deserves.
How did you become an artist?
Before l enrolled in a course in 1995 (Koori Art Course S.M.B) l was only doing sketches, never have l ever used a paint brush until then, but it came naturally to me. Since then l have learnt different techniques and l have well over 500 paintings spread all over the world. I have felt privileged to teach in the Koori Art Course in Ballarat for a number of years and to share skills and pass down knowledge to my peers, while also learning all the time myself.
What projects do you have coming up?
I am working with Billy Blackall on a new public artwork for Alfred Deakin Place, we will be happy to have the ‘Campsite’ story reinstated on that site for the community. In the near future l would like to open an art gallery/studio as well as have workshops and hopefully involving other local artist to share their art and culture with the wider communities.
