BRETT GROVES

Bilingarra Indigenous Art & Culture

“I was brought to this life by Wiradjuri Mother Beverley Shipp and Wiradjuri Father Gary Chatfield and born at Wiradjuri country, Parkes District Hospital in 1974. Parkes is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. Adopted as a baby, by Wally & Jann Groves, our young family began our life story on Dharug country in the Western Suburbs of Sydney. I moved to Gadigal land, Sydney at a young age where I spent most of my young adult life exploring the wonders the world had to offer. I returned to Dharug land, the Blue Mountains where I purchased my first home. I created Bilingarra, Indigenous Art & Culture at Dharug and Gundungurra land and have since returned to live on Wiradjuri country and reopened Bilingarra at Lithgow.

Growing up, both at school and at home I had very little to do with being Aboriginal. I had next to nothing as far as learning about the culture of the people who came before me.

As a mature adult, I took my self on a journey to explore what it means to be Aboriginal and share my learnings through my art. My connection to culture and a deep sense of being grounded began when I started painting. I’m loving learning more about the brilliance behind our thousands of years of culture and taking community along with me as I grow.”