ABOUT PETER FARMER

Peter Farmer Senior is an established Noongar artist, designer, and cultural leader whose career spans three decades. Born in Gnowangerup, Western Australia, his identity is deeply rooted in his Noongar heritage, with maternal connections to the Whadjuk and Wilman peoples and paternal connections to the Minang and Goreng peoples. His upbringing on his father’s Country, and later his ongoing connection to his mother’s Country, have strongly influenced his artistic practice, which integrates storytelling, Noongar language, and adherence to cultural protocols. Peter lived at Marribank Mission for a decade during the 1970s and 1980s, well after the original Carrolup art movement. During this time, his exposure to the Marribank Artists Cooperative, where his mother and other family members worked across ceramics, batik, and textiles, played a formative role in his artistic development. This connection to Marribank and the broader legacy of the Carrolup artists shaped his appreciation for Noongar culture, narrative, and visual expression, elements that continue to inform his work.

In 1998, Peter enrolled in an Associate Degree in Contemporary Aboriginal Art at Curtin University before completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts in 2001. His formal education complemented his cultural knowledge, providing a strong foundation for a multidisciplinary career as both an artist and cultural leader. During this period, he transitioned from producing traditional-style works to exploring contemporary forms and materials, significantly expanding the scope and reach of his practice.

Peter’s artistic output is diverse, encompassing visual art, large-scale sculptural public art installations, interior design, fashion design, and cultural mentorship. His works are held in major national and international collections, including the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the National Gallery of Australia, and the British Museum. Notable public art commissions include sculptural works on Rottnest Island, the New Woodside Building, Yagan Memorial Park, Mandurah Foreshore, and the Melbourne Central Tower Lobby. More recently, Peter has contributed sculptures to Perth’s METRONET railway stations and bus terminals, including Bayswater & Ballajura Stations on the Morley–Ellenbrook Line and Kelmscott Train Station, embedding Noongar culture and storytelling into significant public infrastructure. With more than 150 public art installations across Australia, Peter is recognised as one of the country’s most prolific Aboriginal public artists.

A major highlight of Peter’s interior design work is the ARUP WS2 project in Perth, completed in 2024. The project, which received a major sustainability award, demonstrates his ability to seamlessly integrate Noongar cultural narratives within contemporary, environmentally responsible design. His interior design contributions also include large-scale civic and commercial interiors, reinforcing his reputation as a sought-after collaborator for complex architectural projects.

Peter is also a pioneer in the intersection of art and fashion. His designs have been translated into textiles and haute couture garments showcased at major events including Malaysia Fashion Week, Melbourne Fashion Week, the Telstra Perth Fashion Festival, and the Indigenous Emerging Business Forum Gala Dinner in 2024. His collaborations extend to global and national designers, including work with Jimmy Choo and Paul Carroll Shoes, as well as the creation of Indigenous-designed apparel for Coldplay’s only Perth performance in 2023. He has also produced designs for professional sporting teams such as the West Coast Eagles, West Coast Fever, and The Western Force.

In 2024, Peter collaborated with the Western Australian Opera on Wundig wer Wilura, the first opera performed in Noongar language. This groundbreaking project demonstrated how traditional stories can be translated into contemporary performance, reaching new audiences while maintaining cultural integrity. Central to Peter Farmer Senior’s practice is a deep commitment to the inter-generational transfer and preservation of Noongar language and culture. He views art and language as inseparable, and as essential tools for strengthening identity and connection to Country.

Through mentorship, workshops, and community engagement, Peter has supported and guided many Indigenous artists, helping them build skills, confidence, and sustainable pathways across the arts, fashion, and public art commissioning sectors. Over the past five years, Peter has been integrally involved in NAIDOC fashion showcases, supporting initiatives that engage Aboriginal youth in creative industries.

Through these programs, his designs are worn by young Aboriginal people, fostering cultural pride, self-esteem, and aspiration while opening pathways into careers in art, design, fashion, tourism, conservation, and related fields.

Throughout his career, Peter has been a passionate advocate for education, cultural preservation, and ethical practice. He upholds strict cultural protocols connected to his ancestral lands, ensuring that his work remains deeply respectful of Country and heritage. His achievements have been widely recognised, including being named Artist of the Year at the NAIDOC Perth Awards in both 2008 and 2018. Peter Farmer Senior continues to live and work in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. His enduring legacy lies in his ability to honour the world’s oldest continuing culture while shaping contemporary Australian art and public space, inspiring future generations through creativity, leadership, and cultural strength.