When did your creative journey begin?

I have always been creative. Even in kindergarten, I was making patterns and using colour in ways the other kids weren’t. At school, I studied art and artmaking and never lost that love for creating. Today, my day job as an interior stylist allows me to express creativity across many aspects of my life.
 

What inspired you to pursue a career in the creative field?

I always knew I wanted to work in either music or the creative field. For my own personal art practice, I had dreamed of doing it for years but needed that final push.

Growing up, I was judged because of my Indigenous heritage, and I carried a deep fear that I wouldn’t be taken seriously — that my work would be seen as amateur. On my 40th birthday, I decided to take a leap of faith and just do it. The older we get, the less we care what others think, and that realisation was incredibly empowering.
 

How do you connect with the Greater Geelong area through your work?

It’s mainly through simply being visible and showing up. The team at Arts Geelong has been wonderfully encouraging and supportive. Their warmth has helped me relax, be myself, and stop worrying so much about whether my work is “finished” or polished enough.

I’ve learned that what I sometimes see as imperfect or still evolving is often received very differently by others. The Arts Geelong team understands the labour of love that goes into every piece.
 

What challenges or barriers have you encountered in your career?

Like most artists, time management and client expectations are constant challenges. When I first started, I felt pressure to say yes to every opportunity and accommodate whatever clients wanted. I quickly realised that wasn’t sustainable — especially after a client asked me to copy someone else’s work to which I refused. A few of my friends said who cares, just copy but I refuse to do that – I want to be an ethical artist. If I lose that job then so be it. 

Some clients give me creative freedom with a simple brief like “use these colours,” while others are reluctant to pay fairly for original work, let alone for my choice of colours and cultural input.

My heritage speaks strongly through my practice. What I think I’m going to paint is often very different from what ends up flowing onto the canvas. When I paint, I feel a deep connection to my ancestors. It’s hard to explain, but it’s a spiritual process for me.

A common frustration is when clients look at my work and say, “It’s just dots — how hard can that be?” They often don’t understand the time involved. Some pieces take over 80 hours to complete, and material costs alone can exceed what some are willing to pay (sometimes as little as $150 for a large work). Many reference cheap prints they’ve seen online rather than authentic Indigenous art from reputable galleries or artists.

I’ve had to accept that I can’t be everything to everyone.
 

Looking ahead, what would you like to achieve?

My big dream — like many artists — is to hold a solo exhibition of my own works. I would also love to create pieces for corporate spaces, particularly hotels or public buildings. Collaborating with local businesses on packaging design or products would be wonderful too.

It’s not purely about ego, but I would love to be recognised for my work, whether on a small or large scale.
 

Where can we see/learn more about your work/projects?

You can follow my journey on Instagram at @yawadesign. My work is currently on display in the Yarra Street Window Gallery in Geelong (a 24-hour public art space). I also have a piece exhibited at the Spanner Man Sculpture Garden and Art Gallery in Barraport, Victoria.