The prisoners’ artworks were among those selected for the popular Revealed 2025 exhibition, being held this year at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA).
The selection panel chose the five paintings from 11 submitted by the Department of Justice from prisons around the State. The selected works are a mix of landscapes of the artists’ Country and dot paintings.
“Revealed is the biggest event on the Aboriginal arts calendar and a prestigious exhibition to be chosen for,” Department Arts Coordinator Sophie Davidson said.
“The prisoners selected for the exhibition are producing amazing works,” Ms Davidson said.
“This gives them the opportunity to show their families and communities what they’ve been creating. It’s a positive thing they can share and it helps reframe their identity.”
Revealed 2025 Curator Zali Morgan said the prisoners’ art met the selection panel’s criteria for bright and beautiful works that had in-depth meaning or showed artists connection to Country, Culture and community.
“The Department of Justice artists’ paintings were really interesting works where they continue the Carrolup style, or a Noongar style, that we’ve seen evolve since colonisation,” Ms Morgan, a Whadjuk, Ballardong and Wilman Noongar woman, said.
The Carrolup landscape style originated with child artists at the Carrolup mission in the mid-20th century.
“It’s important for Revealed to continue to show that while incarcerated these artists are still artists and hopefully we’ll see them continue to develop their skills,” Ms Morgan said.
Prisoners study and create art under instruction and with support from other prisoner artists at education centres in custodial facilities.
Some of those artists pursue tertiary studies in Visual Arts with Curtin University under the Justice and Equity Through Art (JETA) program.
The Revealed exhibition is being presented by PICA in partnership with the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA and runs until 15 June.
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