Tracy Waite

For the past 15 years, I’ve been a self-taught artist, shaped by years spent travelling across Australia and painting wild places. Although I never lived in the Kimberley, my journeys through the region left a lasting impression and an inexplicable longing to return as often as I can.

My paintings are not about perfect representation. Instead, they are about feeling; the heat radiating from the ground, the hush of dusk, the quiet strength of the boabs standing sentinel against the escarpment. I want viewers to sense the Kimberley’s vastness and vulnerability, its beauty and its solitude. Each mark is a conversation with the land — a way of honouring its spirit and inviting others to pause, look closer, and feel its presence.

I hope to offer a window into the soul of this land, and to share a little of the wonder and gratitude I feel every time I pick up my brush. Its ancient boab trees and ochre earth continue to inspire my loose, expressive style and bold, unexpected colours. My connection to the land is deeply personal, informed by both my heritage and my experiences on the road.

My paintings have been exhibited in several galleries in the Eastern States, and I was honoured to win first prize in a gallery art exhibition three years ago. I have paintings in personal collections in several countries around the globe including Canada, the UK, Ireland, and the USA. I’ve also returned to the Kimberley for a solo show at Artopia Gallery in 2021, and to visit and refill my “Inspiration cup” several times since!

Ultimately, my hope is that my works offer a window into the Kimberley’s soul and perhaps stir a longing to protect and cherish these wild, irreplaceable places, now more than ever!