Dancing Hands

Aunty Patsy Doolan (Barkindji), Amy Hammond (Gamilaroi), Carly Tarkari Dodd (Kaurna, Narungga, Ngarrindjeri), Kyra Mancktelow (Quandamooka, Mardigan), Lyn-Al Young (Gunnai, Wiradjuri, Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta), Molly Mahoney (Boonwurrung, Wemba Wemba, Barkindji)

Our grandmothers’ grandmothers’ hands tell stories; weaving and sculpting are more than just a practice – they are deeply-embedded traditions that embody resistance as truth-telling, love and joy, all rooted within Country and kinship.

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.

Their creations speak to the innovative ways our people continue to embed and protect knowledge for future generations. These women, through immense love and care, continue to create, safeguard and pass on cultural knowledge, ensuring that each thread carries with it the stories, strength, and spirit of our people. Their practices are a testament to their commitment to cultural preservation and a powerful reminder of the important role of craft, adornment and making to the production of contemporary Aboriginal art and culture.

With hands that dance, they keep weaving into the continuum.

Maya Hodge is the curator of the 2025 First Peoples-led exhibition, an initiative established by Craft in 2020 to support the development of contemporary First Nations curatorial practice within craft and design. The annual program engages a curator, collective and/or practicing artist of Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander descent to develop and curate an exhibition within Craft's main gallery. The invited curator is chosen through consultation with First Nations artists and/or industry professionals to ensure the program is First Nations-led and is representative of cultural practices and protocols. The exhibition coincides with NAIDOC Week.