The Artist Behind THE STYLE 100 Cover, Joanne Currie Nalingu
Honouring place, culture, and creativity
By Bianca Licina | 13th January 2026When selecting a cover for our special edition THE STYLE 100, it felt essential to honour Brisbane’s creative identity by featuring the work of a local First Nations artist. We wanted a piece that spoke not only to the city itself, but to its deeper rhythms – its stories, history, and sense of place. To do so, we turned to one of Brisbane’s leading contemporary art spaces, FireWorks Gallery, for guidance.
Founded by respected gallerist Michael Eather in Bowen Hills, FireWorks Gallery is known for championing Indigenous artists whose practices are deeply connected to Country and culture. Michael introduced us to celebrated Queensland artist Joanne Currie Nalingu, and from there, the decision felt instinctive. Her work Book River was selected for the cover – an artwork that feels unmistakably Brisbane in both spirit and story.
Michael Eather at FireWorks Gallery
Who is Joanne Currie Nalingu?
Joanne Currie Nalingu is a highly regarded Queensland artist whose journey into the art world began without formal education or access to structured arts programs. Growing up amid significant family challenges, Joanne learned instead by observing – watching other contemporary artists, listening carefully, and absorbing the cultural protocols surrounding storytelling and artistic practice.
Joanne Currie ‘Book River’
Determined to develop her own visual language, Joanne’s commitment and talent have since earned her national recognition. She was awarded the prestigious Wynne Prize for Landscape in 2008, and more recently, QAGOMA acquired a major six-metre work, adding to significant acquisitions by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Museum of Brisbane, and The University of Queensland Art Museum.
Joanne’s paintings are immediately recognisable for their rhythmic, almost meditative quality. Her signature dot work appears ‘sewn’ into flowing lines, creating a sense of movement and continuity. Central to her practice is the idea of the river as a living entity – one that mirrors time, memory, and personal experience. The rippling of water, shifting surfaces, and changing ground become metaphors for life’s events, suggesting that time itself moves like a river: constant, layered, and infinite.
Her work invites viewers to reflect on space, spatiality, and time – not as fixed concepts, but as fluid, interconnected experiences.
To experience Joanne Currie Nalingu’s work in person, visit FireWorks Gallery in Bowen Hills, where her practice continues to be thoughtfully represented and celebrated.
