Ku Arts and Arts in Health at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) are partnering to deliver an annual exhibition program showcasing works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Ku Arts and FMC partnership champions the role arts have in improving the quality of life for all people and contributes to a vibrant South Australian arts sector.
For Ku Arts Board of Directors, health and well-being is intrinsic to arts and culture. Art is a connection to Country for many artists living away from home due to health, work and family reasons; art can create economic pathways, support healing from intergenerational traumas and loss of culture, and connect communities.
As the SA peak organisation for Aboriginal artists and art centres, Ku Arts creates opportunities and pathways for artists to access ethical exhibition outcomes. Through our partnership with FMC, we are able to create this exhibition opportunity for South Australian Artists. As such, Ku Arts does not take any commission on artwork sales; 100% of proceeds from sales are returned to Artists.
This exhibition brings together the work of five powerful artists whose practices celebrate cultural strength and connection to Country.
Marli Macumba (Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara, Arrernte, Gurindji) works across painting, weaving, ceramics, and fibre art. Her vibrant works draw on Tjukurpa and traditional storytelling, exploring family, Country, and desert flowers from her childhood.
Patricia Fatt (Wilcannia/Yankunytjatjara) paints women’s stories and Country — depicting creek lines, hunting, and family life. Her practice connects generations through cultural stories and shared memory.
Lisa Khan (Yankunytjatjara, Antikirinya, Pitjantjatjara, and Ahmadiyyah Muslim) creates from her Adelaide studio. Her work reflects resilience, identity, and belonging, bridging traditional and contemporary expression.
Tanya Van Horen (Yankunytjatjara, Pitjantjatjara) lives and works in Coober Pedy. Her paintings reflect the vivid colours of the desert and Dreaming stories of Kungkarangkalpa and Papa Tjukurpa, inspired by her active life and connection to her mother’s Country.
Raquel Larkins (Kokatha, Dieri, Arabana, Narungga) paints, weaves, and works with textiles inspired by Country, family, and healing. Her practice is grounded in storytelling and shaped by the landscapes and artistic influences around her.
Together, these artists share stories of culture, strength, and identity — creating works that honour their heritage and celebrate the continuity of First Nations artistic practice across South Australia.
