ARTIST PROFILE / ALICIA BILYARA BENNETT

Alicia Bilyara Bennett is a Dharawal based indigenous artist who works mainly using earth pigments and acrylic polymer. Bennett utilises her knowledge of barkindji (Grandmother country) and Ngalakan (Grandfather country) language and Dreamtime then connects with her life experiences away and on country interpreting stories into art form pieces. Bennett is the daughter of late renowned indigenous painter and emu egg carver Crunchy (Richard) Bennett (Nuddii) and mixed media Artist Amanda Farquharson whom studied her masters at COFA, Bennett is also the granddaughter of renowned still life painter the late Constance Farquharson, Indigenous grandparents Isobel Bennett and Fredrick Joseph Bennett deceased members of the stolen generation. 

Though Bennett hasn’t formally studied the arts, she has been mentored and inspired by her artist families culture and history with her art speaking for itself, inheriting the ability to present works with playful depth to a broad audience. Bennett is currently working from her home studio in Cronulla, Dharawal country taking on private commissions and working on exclusive collections of which she a portion to communities in need. 

Bennett manages her time between full time parenting, work, managing ‘maawulu’ a design store venture and painting exceptionally and aspires to become a full time artist and store curator within the next year. Bennett plans to work closely with indigenous communities and the youth to give back as much as she can to the communities that inspire and support her.