ELISA JANE CARMICHAEL is a Ngugi woman belonging to the Quandamooka People (Moreton Island/Mulgumpin and North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah, Queensland).
Her practice visually explores the beauty of nature and surrounding environment, drawing inspiration from her cultural identity and heritage. Elisa has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Queensland College of Art, Griffith University; and a Master of Fine Arts, QUT. Elisa is a third time finalist in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (2023, 2021, 2018). Recent group exhibitions include ua usiusi faʻavaʻasavili, is an alagāʻupu,Tarrawarra Biennale 2023, Naadohbii: To Draw Water at the Winnipeg Art Gallery (2022, Canada), Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre,Melbourne Museum (2022-23), and Pātaka Art + Museum (2023, New Zealand); the Busan Biennale (2022); Undertow at the Fremantle Arts Centre; Primavera 2021 (Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney), Tarnanthi (Art Gallery of South Australia 2020) long water: fibre stories (Institute of Modern Art) and Transits and Returns (Vancouver Art Gallery, Canada, 2019).
Carmichael has revealed her public artworks at Treasured Spirit, Ozcare Newstead, QLD (2023) Strings of Waterholes, Herston Quarter, Brisbane QLD (2022), Maitland Regional Council, Newcastle NSW (2022), Water is Life(2021) at South Bank Parklands, Brisbane, QLD. Carmichael has collaborated with Judy Watson on her public art commission nerung ballun (Nerang River), freshwater, saltwater for the new Home of the Arts (HOTA) Gallery on the Gold Coast (Qld, Australia) and assisted Judy Watson in her QAGOMA tow row commission (2016).
Elisa further develops her practice through both new techniques and materials acknowledging, nurturing, and protecting her culture and the resources of Quandamooka Country. Her unique explorations into contemporary Quandamooka weaving and vivacious use of colour and materials, are becoming more distinctly recognised by esteemed industry colleagues across the country. Carmichael’s work is held in private and public collections across Australia, including The British Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art (Australia), Art Gallery of South Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Art Gallery of Western Australia, University of Queensland Art Museum, Griffith University Art Museum, QUT Art Museum, Queensland Museum, and Bendigo Art Gallery.
