About Us
Our Story
Cape York Art is an Aboriginal owned and operated arts business that connects audiences with authentic Aboriginal cultural experiences. We share knowledge and enhance understanding of Cape York Peninsula’s diverse Aboriginal cultures and distinctive artistic styles.
Because of our strong connection to central western Cape York Peninsula, we specialise in sharing the art, culture and stories of the Kokoberrin peoples, and our beautiful country around Staaten River.
Today many direct descendants of the Kokoberrin reside in Cairns, Palm Island, Mackay, Kowanyama, and Normanton. Our homeland extends from Mudpalangen, mouth of the Staaten River area, and the area between and a bit beyond the Barku, Nassau and Staaten Rivers, in Western Cape York Peninsula, it extends further along the Staaten River then following Wyabba Creek, into Staaten River National Park in the east.
Kokoberrin artists participate in Cape York Art workshop to develop new works and preserve cultural traditions.
Our Country
The Cape York Peninsula, located at the tip of Queensland, is a vast unspoiled wilderness area in Australia’s northern region. It is one of the few areas on the planet that remain untouched. This unique ecosystem and its precious inhabitants are being protected. The rugged and remote lands of “the cape” are home to some of Australia’s most well-known animals, such as the Barramundi and Crocodile. It is also home to endangered species such as the Black Palm Cockatoo and the Green Turtle. The Cape York Peninsula is also known for its precious waterways, making it a naturalist and tourist destination. We hope you will come to visit us one day to see the Cape York way of life.
Cape York is also home to many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clan groups and has one of the highest ATSI populations in Australia. The region is largely undeveloped and unspoilt. It has many natural resources that are now the focus of economic development activities in ATSI communities. Community infrastructure has been set up and is managed by Councils to support the individual populations of each community. Prescribed Body Corporates exist in each community to manage revenue from mining or leases for the sole use of land and natural resource management.
Map of Kokoberrin homelands highlighting story places
Traditionally clan groups throughout Cape York believed that ancestral beings created story places which mapped out traditional homelands and the boundaries of individual clan groups. Family groups had association with story places. Right across Australia it was the responsibility of each clan group to maintain and protect their story places. Story places also provide the names for many of the totem names that are given to family members and handed down from one generation to the next. This naming connects people to a place and ensures their connection to that country is known.
Our Brand
Our beautiful logo is based on a Staaten River dilly bag collected in the 1900s which forms part of the Walter Roth Collection at the Australian National Museum in Sydney. The orange ochre and blood red colours used in the logo are faithful to the original artefact and are also signature colours of the Kokoberrin clan group. Dilly bags have been used throughout millennia by Aboriginal people to carry items of significance. Today, the Cape York Art brand signifies how we are carrying culture forward by bringing together artists from across Cape York to share their unique artworks with audiences and collectors.
Staaten River dilly bag collected circa 1900.
Walter Roth Collection, Australian National Museum
Our Artists
Our Over the past two decades artists from Cape York have built up a strong following in the art market through their depictions of the unique landscapes and cultures of Cape York. These pioneering artists have captivated audiences around the world and inspired a new generation of artists to continue in their footsteps.
Cape York Art exhibition at CIAF 2017
We provide services to support emerging, midcareer, and established artists. Through our cultural programming we link artists to profile building and sales opportunities at regular art fairs, across Australia. Read more about the achievements of some of our artists below and consider purchasing one of their exquisite artworks today.
artist profiles
Lisa Michl Ko-manggén
Lisa Michl Ko-manggén is a highly acclaimed and award-winning visual artist and cultural advisor. She has garnered recognition for her exceptional artistic talent and has had the privilege of representing Australia’s First Nations people at prestigious events across Europe, the USA, the Pacific, and the Caribbean Islands, among others.
Lisa’s ancestral homeland extends from Mudpalangen, mouth of the Staaten River area, and the area between and a bit beyond the Barku, Nassau and Staaten Rivers, in Western Cape York Peninsula, it extends further along the Staaten River then following Wyabba Creek, into Staaten River National Park in the east.
The name Ko-manggén holds immense significance in the Kokoberrin language, translating to “Saltwater catfish.” This totemic name was given to Lisa by her esteemed great grandfather, a respected elder and guardian of Kokoberrin traditions. Today, the Kokoberrin people primarily reside in Kowanyama, Normanton, and other communities in northern Queensland. They strive to preserve and strengthen their cultural practices through various activities.
In recognition of her unwavering dedication and commitment spanning over 26 years, Lisa was honored with the prestigious Order of Australia Medal in 2019. This esteemed accolade acknowledges her invaluable contributions to nurturing and supporting Queensland’s Indigenous Arts industry, all while consistently creating and showcasing her own extraordinary artwork.
Jahzara Michl
Jahzara Michl is a talented young artist hailing from the Kokoberrin language group. Her ancestral homelands, known as Pinnarinch, extends from Mudpalangen, mouth of the Staaten River area, and the area between and a bit beyond the Barku, Nassau and Staaten Rivers, in Western Cape York Peninsula, it extends further along the Staaten River then following Wyabba Creek, into Staaten River National Park in the east.
In the Kokoberrin language, the name “Minmandel” translates to “(Grey and white Fish Hawk),” which serves as Jahzara’s totem name. This significant title was bestowed upon her by her grandfather, a respected elder and lore man within the Kokoberrin community. Presently, the Kokoberrin people primarily reside in Kowanyama, Normanton, and other communities in northern Queensland. They strive to strengthen and preserve their cultural practices through a diverse range of activities.
On her father’s side, Jahzara also has connections to Jamaica in the Caribbean. This diverse heritage has greatly influenced her artistic journey. Over the past four years, Jahzara has been showcasing her artwork, demonstrating her immense talent and passion. In addition to her artistic pursuits, she finds joy in creating craftworks, playing the double bass, and lending her voice to the Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir.
Marilyn Kepple
Marilyn, a WIK Mungkan woman from Coen in Cape York Peninsula, has deep connections to her ancestral lands. Her mother and father are from the Winchanum Clan group, a smaller clan within the WIK community. Additionally, Marilyn has ties to the Ayapathu and Lama Lama Clans in Coen, with her paternal grandmother being an Ayapathu woman.
Growing up, Marilyn cherished moments spent with her family camping, fishing, and hunting on their traditional homelands. These experiences inspired her artistic journey, which began with a printmaking workshop Managed by Theo Tremblay at Studio One in Canberra in 1998. Through the years, Marilyn developed her skills at TAFE Cairns, earning a Diploma in ATSI visual arts. Her passion for art was further fuelled by a printmaking workshop when in 2010 Marilyn was engaged by Lisa Michl ko-manggén at the Tanks Arts Centre, to be part in a printmaking workshop along with a group of Aboriginal ladies from Cape York. This project was in partnership with Arts Queensland’s Backing Indigenous Arts Program. Marilyn’s artwork, predominantly using acrylic on canvas and lino-printing, reflects her deep connection to the land and memories of gathering natural materials with her mother.
Marilyn’s roots in the WIK community have shaped her artistic expression, which continues to evolve over the years. Growing up in Coen, she learned the importance of preserving traditional practices and stories passed down through generations. Memories of searching for natural fibres for weaving and hunting for bush foods like turkey eggs and wild yam with her mother inspire her artworks. Marilyn’s artwork continues to reflect her deep connection to the land and the stories of her ancestors, capturing the essence of her cultural identity.
Dorothy Edwards
Dorothy Edwards is a senior Kokoberrin elder with lineage to the Western Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. Currently based in Gimuy, Dorothy’s ancestral homelands, known as Pinnarinch, extends from Mudpalangen, mouth of the Staaten River area, and the area between and a bit beyond the Barku, Nassau and Staaten Rivers, in Western Cape York Peninsula, it extends further along the Staaten River then following Wyabba Creek, into Staaten River National Park in the east.
Since 2015, Dorothy has pursued her passion for the arts by completing a certificate IV in ATSI Visual Art at Cairns Tafe. It was during this time that she discovered her love for acrylic painting and developed a unique style that has flourished over the past nine years. Throughout her artistic journey, Dorothy has consistently produced captivating artworks, which have been showcased both locally and nationally at Indigenous art fairs.
Whether making pandanus armbands, cocky apple flower garlands, preparing pipi shell or ashes damper on the hot coals with her mother and siblings, this cultural knowledge always shines through in Dorothy’s captivating artworks.
Dorothy’s talent was acknowledged in 2012 when she was awarded second place for her artwork titled “Waterloo” at the esteemed Laura Art Award. Furthermore, her first solo exhibition at UMI Arts Gallery in 2021 showcased her exceptional unique skills and artistry. Today, Her creations not only serve as a testament to her cultural heritage but also captivate audiences with their beauty and depth.
Shaun Edwards
Shaun Edwards is a highly esteemed artist and designer hailing from the Western Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. He is widely recognized for his exceptional talent in both fields.
Shaun’s ancestral homeland extends from Mudpalangen, mouth of the Staaten River area, and the area between and a bit beyond the Barku, Nassau and Staaten Rivers, in Western Cape York Peninsula, it extends further along the Staaten River then following Wyabba Creek, into Staaten River National Park in the east.These remote lands hold immense cultural significance to Shaun’s Kokoberrin people, as they are home to numerous sacred clan story places that he passionately celebrates through his artistic creations.
Shaun’s artworks have garnered widespread acclaim and have been prominently exhibited throughout Australia. Notably, they have found a cherished place in the esteemed collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and AIATSIS as well as in renowned international collections.
Chris Henry
Chris Henry, a traditional man from the Kokoberrin peoples of the Central West Coast of Cape York Peninsula, is deeply connected to the Staaten River area and north to the Nassau River. The land is made up of vast wetlands, cabbage palm forests, and pristine waterways, and holds great cultural significance to Kokoberrin people. His story places are Lightning and Water fairy and totem Minmandel (Grey and white Fish Hawk). Henry grew up in Kowanyama and Normanton and is a fluent in speaking the five languages from this region. He draws inspiration from his time spent on country with his elders and family, which is reflected in his music, paintings, and drawings. He has showcased his work at the Cairns Regional Gallery and Hilton International, while also passing on his knowledge of Kokoberrin culture by teaching the younger generation traditional singing and dancing.
Timena Rhodes-Scott
International Impact book award winning author, Timena Rhodes-Scott, was born in the Torres Strait. She is of European and Kuku Yalanji cultural heritagefrom Eastern Cape York. The author has taught early childhood, primary, secondary, and tertiary education in various countries around the world, in the Torres Strait and her hometown, Cairns. Timena has written 3 children’s books; Keep Shining Bright, You Belong Here Too and Deep Listening. The second book winning the award in the category of Children’s Education.
We are also interested in helping our artists develop their knowledge of copyright and licensing. We also offer small business advice and assistance to our artists whom wish to learn more about managing their own sustainable businesses.
Cape York Art is an exciting new business model and through it, artists are invited to work together to develop a shared vision which is to promote the Cape York Art Movement, further our creative development and participate in opportunities and maintain sustainable incomes from our creative enterprises.