Carly Tarkari Dodd (Kaurna, Narungga, Ngarrindjeri)

Carly Tarkari Dodd is a Kaurna, Narungga, and Ngarrindjeri artist and curator whose practice centres on weaving, jewellery, sculpture, and cultural storytelling. Taught traditional Ngarrindjeri weaving techniques by Aunty Ellen Trevorrow at a young age, Dodd continues this legacy by combining ancestral knowledge with contemporary materials to create powerful objects of cultural resilience. Her work explores themes of First Nations activism, sovereignty, and identity, often juxtaposing Indigenous experience with the ongoing impacts of colonisation.

Through adornment and regalia, Dodd highlights the strength and beauty of cultural continuation, transforming materials like raffia, ribbon, and fabric into bold wearable statements. Her work has been featured on the David Jones Indigenous Fashion Projects Runway at Australian Fashion Week, in Vogue Australia, and across national and international exhibitions. In 2023, she was a finalist in the MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design and in 2025, she was named a finalist in the prestigious Rigg Design Prize.

Dodd was recognised as South Australia’s NAIDOC Young Person of the Year in 2018. Based on Kaurna Country, she continues to pass on knowledge through workshops and community engagement, with her works held in both public and private collections across Australia.

09_Amy Hammond_Dhinawangu Walay (Emu Country)_Courtesy of Tamworth Regional Gallery

Dancing Hands

June 28 — August 2, 2025

Curated by Maya Hodge (Lardil)

Dancing Hands showcases six Aboriginal women artists at different stages of their careers working across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia.

Through their craft, these artists illuminate the enduring strength of First Peoples' storytelling, culture and community. Each artist brings their unique experiences and creative approaches, contributing to the rich tapestry of contemporary Aboriginal art and design.

Learn more