Artist Gallery - Ambrose Killian
My name is Ambrose Scott Killian, I am a proud father to Amias Angale Killian and husband. I was born in Larrakia country (Darwin) and I am currently residing in Meanjin/ Brisbane. I am of mixed ancestry, with Australian, German, British, African-American and Aboriginal blood. My Nanna, Barbara-Anne Chisholm, was born in Eastern Arrernte country and was stolen and raised north of Darwin on Melville Island before moving to Brisbane and then back to Darwin after her schooling had finished. My Grandfather, Ambrose Morgan was of Bundjalung and African- American decent and grew up around Redfern, NSW.
We were fortunate enough that Nanna found her home country from where she was taken from, to which we are now welcomed back to at any opportunity.
I have always been a day dreamer and drawer, finding myself stuck doodling and drawing from a very young age. My drive to learn more about the cultural significance of our art really began in 2010 when I created a large piece titled ‘Grey’. This piece won the Indigenous Heart Foundation Student Award and toured QLD galleries for the remainder of the year. More importantly, it opened up my passion and drive to keep painting and learning about our art and culture.
I enjoy acrylic medium on canvas, finding myself painting pieces with a prominent foreground image/ subject, or landscape style paintings. I am severely colour-blind, so choosing the right colour pallet is always a challenge, but very rewarding when I get it right.
I am encapsulated by our beautiful environment, the night sky and landscapes so find myself painting and creating pieces with silhouettes of people and our animals looking over some of these landscapes.
We did not have books, giant relics and buildings to teach our culture and lore, so I feel it is my duty to teach and expose people to our culture through my artwork and story telling.
contact details
email: ambrose@ngalinayeye.com
mobile: 0401312939