Naomi Hobson

Naomi Hobson (born 1979)[1] is an Australian Indigenous artist of southern Kaantju and Umpila heritage from Lockhart River, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Hobson started exhibiting in 2013.[2]

Naomi Hobson is a visual and photographic artist known for her contemporary artworks full of vibrant colour and dynamic intricate shapes which imitate nature. Hobson paints her father’s country of the East coastal regions of Cape York Northern Queensland. Hobson’s visual art is an abstract interpretation of her culture and the social and political history of her family and the ancestors before her. Naomi lives and works in the small township of Coen where her family connection is strong. The geographical features of the region including the contours of the McIlwraith ranges, the ocean and waterways are prominent in her paintings.[3]

Hobson was winner of The Alice Prize - Australia’s national prize for contemporary art,  in 2016. She has been a finalist in many awards including the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award, Sunshine Coast Art Prize and the Geelong Contemporary Art Prize. [2]

Early life

Hobson's grandfather named her 'Yikan' after the hoop pine that grows in the McIlwraith Ranges of the east coast of Cape York Peninsula. She grew up in Coen in Far North Queensland, where the natural environment inspired her early artistic works.[4][5]

Career

Hobson works in a range of materials, including photography and ceramics.[6] A first ever solo exhibition, taking its name from her name, ran from 4 to 28 June 2013 at Alcaston Gallery in Fitzroy.[7]

Exhibitions and acquisitions

2013 I am Yikan - Alcaston Gallery, Fitzroy, Victoria

2018 Times have Changed - Suzanne O'Connell Gallery[3]

This exhibition depicted how her father's country had changed due to the effects of climate change. It raised awareness of the social and environmental changes related to climate change and dispossession.

2019 Warriors without a Weapon - Bendigo Art Gallery

The Bendigo Art Gallery exhibition titled Body Politics: Contemporary Works from the Collection, showcases works from Hobson’s 2018 photographic series Warriors without a Weapon.

The photographs depict portraits of First Nation men from Hobson's country framed through an indigenous lens. The images represent an indigenous identity based on the lived experience of the men. The men are adorned with flowers emphasising their sensitivity and connection to their environment. Hobson's photographs break the stereotype of indigenous men and reframe preconceived narratives based on the Colonial gaze. [8]

Selected Awards and Grants
  • Finalist, Gold Coast Art Prize 2013, 2014[2]
  • Finalist 31st Telstra National Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal Art Awards, 2014[2]
  • Winner, The Alice Prize, 2016, Australia's National Prize for Contemporary Art. [9]

Education
  • Mainstream Visual Arts, Tropical North Queensland Institute of Tafe, Cairns, 2007
  • Multimedia studies Canberra Institute of Technology, 2005
  • Certificate III in Multimedia, Tropical North Queensland Institute of Tafe, Cairns, 2002[2]

References
  1. Hobson, Naomi. "Yinyalma". Item held by National Gallery of Australia. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  2. Naomi Hobson Saines,Christopher et al. Gallery of Modern Art 2015,pp54-55.PDF
  3. O'Connell, Suzanne (23 June 2020). "Naomi Hobson".
  4. "Artist Profile".
  5. ‘I Am Yikan’ Naomi Hobson Solo Exhibition Flyer. Melbourne: Alcaston Gallery. 2013.
  6. Fairley, Gina. "Review: Naomi Hobson, Adolescent Wonderland, Cairns Art Gallery (QLD)". ArtsHub Australia. Arts Hub. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  7. "Previous Exhibitions: Naomi Hobson: Kanichi - On Top People". Alcaston Gallery.
  8. Hobson, Naomi (23 June 2020). "Body Politic".
  9. Hobson, Naomi (18 June 2020). "Bendigo Art Gallery".
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