Creative Profile: Brieanna Geary
Embracing Heritage, Celebrating Black Excellence: An Interview with Brieanna Geary, an Artist from Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative.
During NAIDOC Week, Australia pays tribute to the cultural heritage and remarkable achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In Sydney's Inner West community of Leichhardt, Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative has been at the forefront of celebrating First Nations excellence and showcasing the remarkable accomplishments of local Aboriginal artists since 1987. In the languages of the Bundjalung, Gamilaroi and Wiradjuri, Boomalli means to strike; to make a mark. Boomalli is the longest running Aboriginal owned and run arts organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting NSW language group artists. Boomalli provides a safe space for artists to exhibit, work and tell their stories through their art.
Boomalli's impact is seen in artists like Bronwyn Bancroft, Fiona Foley, Michael Riley, Tracey Moffatt, and the 2022 Archibald Prize winner, Blak Douglas. As a support for urban artists, this cooperative continuously empowers Aboriginal artists in Sydney and regional New South Wales.
The founding members, ten artists in total, were driven by a desire for recognition within mainstream art. Challenging preconceptions about urban-based Aboriginal artists, their diverse backgrounds and artistic expressions carved out a unique space in the art world.
In this Creative of the Month interview, we have the privilege of sitting down with Brieanna Geary, one of the next generation of artists at Boomalli. We delve into what drives her personal artistic practices and explore how her involvement in the cooperative has profoundly impacted her growth as an artist.
Born in Ipswich Queensland, Brieanna proudly embraces her Aboriginal heritage, belonging to the Githabul and Ugarapul nations, with Bundjalung ancestry. Her upbringing revolved around immersing herself in a rich cultural life, learning about her people, and preserving traditional ways of living as an Indigenous person.
With a profound passion for her art, Brieanna invites you on a captivating journey through her paintings, encouraging you to experience the world from her unique perspective.
She emphasises the importance of acting as custodians of this land, the guidance and wisdom of elders.
Hey Brieanna, it's great to have you here. Can you start by sharing a bit about yourself and your background? What led you to pursue a career in visual arts?
More about Boomalli Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative was established in 1987 by ten founding member artists. They were Euphemia Bostock, Fiona Foley, Michael Riley (dec.), Tracey Moffatt, Jeffrey Samuels, Bronwyn Bancroft, Avril Quaill, Fern Martens, Arone Meeks (dec.), and Brenda L. Croft. These artists were striving for recognition from the mainstream art society and their diversity was unparalleled. They challenged preconceptions around urban based Aboriginal artists and created a unique space for themselves within the art world. Boomalli operates within a lateral Co-operative structure with senior artists supporting and mentoring new and emerging artists. Boomalli's gallery, studio and retail space is located at 55-59 Flood St, Leichhardt in Sydney's Inner West. Boomalli hosts regular exhibitions and community events at their space and across other Sydney venues. --------- Exhibitions at Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative: Event: "What a Little Yarn Can Do" - An exhibition showcasing 'little yarns' from emerging and established artists on arts practice, contemporary life, and cultural identity. Curated by: Dennis Golding Artists: Dakota Dixon-Campbell, Euphemia Bostock, Vicki Golding, Dennis Golding, Shane Youngberry, Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft, Nioka Lowe-Brennan, Wanita Lowe, Brieanna Geary, and Marilyn Russell. Learn more at and view virtual tours of these exhibition and past exhibitions: https://boomalli.com.au/
Hey Brieanna, it's great to have you here. Can you start by sharing a bit about yourself and your background? What led you to pursue a career in visual arts?
Jingiwallah, you mob! My name is Brieanna Geary, and I am an Aboriginal artist from Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative, located in Leichhardt, Sydney. I was originally born on Ugarapul Country (Ipswich) and got moved to Gumbayngirr Country (Coffs Harbour) when I was nine years old.
I’m fortunate to be gifted naturally. I popped out of my mother's womb holding a paintbrush. Both of my grandmothers were water painting artists. My father is a comic artist, and he has always, and still does to this day, engage in drawing competitions with me whenever I go to visit him. He does this because he likes to monitor my artistic progress. My mother is also a visual artist who painted landscapes; so it was in my best interest to be in the arts industry. Both my parents didn't think they would have an artistic daughter like me, but here I am, their baby girl. Can you tell us the story behind how you became involved with Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative? What drew you to this community of artists? Well, a very special person came into my bedroom in Coffs Harbour and saw my ‘2 Goannas’ hanging on my wall. Without a doubt, she blew me away and said she had a gallery looking for artists just like me. Then, she called out to my big cousin Kyra and said, "Get this girl to Boomalli!" So, yeah, that's the story of why I'm here, making my mark at Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Cooperative. It's taken me a while, but I'm here. I cherish and still have my kindergarten tea towel with me, along with all my classmates' first school drawings on it from 1998. I'm here to continue my dreams and follow my passion for art. I don't strive to be better than any other artist; I just have the determination to surpass my own previous art pieces. The Elders at Boomalli play a significant role in shaping artistic practice and nurturing emerging artists. As a young artist and member of the next generation at Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative, how has being part of this vibrant community influenced and shaped your artistic growth and development?I have the utmost respect for all my Elders and mentors at Boomalli; they are all like family to me. They can see how I studied various forms of creative art while growing up, and taught myself how to interpret them into different art forms, and that's allowed. That's my art; that's me; that's who I am as an artist, and that's how I present my art for all of you to see it the way I do.
I chat with my mentors all the time, and they always tell me to go for it and reach for the stars in the arts. Most importantly, they encourage me to believe in myself and believe in my art, and that's exactly what I'm doing. If it weren't for my mentors believing in my art and encouraging me to do better, I wouldn't be here.Can you share any upcoming projects or exhibitions you are excited about, where audiences can experience your artwork?
I’m swamped right now, so I cannot tell you when my next upcoming project will be at this stage. However, I do timelapse the majority of my artworks (follow my TikToks - iambreezy93). Cheers big ears!!More about Boomalli Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative was established in 1987 by ten founding member artists. They were Euphemia Bostock, Fiona Foley, Michael Riley (dec.), Tracey Moffatt, Jeffrey Samuels, Bronwyn Bancroft, Avril Quaill, Fern Martens, Arone Meeks (dec.), and Brenda L. Croft. These artists were striving for recognition from the mainstream art society and their diversity was unparalleled. They challenged preconceptions around urban based Aboriginal artists and created a unique space for themselves within the art world. Boomalli operates within a lateral Co-operative structure with senior artists supporting and mentoring new and emerging artists. Boomalli's gallery, studio and retail space is located at 55-59 Flood St, Leichhardt in Sydney's Inner West. Boomalli hosts regular exhibitions and community events at their space and across other Sydney venues. --------- Exhibitions at Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative: Event: "What a Little Yarn Can Do" - An exhibition showcasing 'little yarns' from emerging and established artists on arts practice, contemporary life, and cultural identity. Curated by: Dennis Golding Artists: Dakota Dixon-Campbell, Euphemia Bostock, Vicki Golding, Dennis Golding, Shane Youngberry, Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft, Nioka Lowe-Brennan, Wanita Lowe, Brieanna Geary, and Marilyn Russell. Learn more at and view virtual tours of these exhibition and past exhibitions: https://boomalli.com.au/