Inspired by the beautiful surroundings of the Torres Strait islands, Solomon Booth expresses Melanesian cultural influences through his art. Islander ancestors were master craftsmen who created incredible incised objects for ceremony and celebration. The artists approach to modern fine art printmaking reflects the timeless craft and intricate carving articulated by ancestor artisans. The lifestyle and narrative storytelling of Moa Island in the Torres Strait holds a unique continuity from the days of pre-contact ancestors to participation in the modern world—from rock art to contemporary expression and materials. Residing in Kubin Village on Moa Island, Solomon Booth has contributed significantly to the development of the Islands art centre. He joined the Mualgal Minaral Artists Collective in 2000, before it incorporated as Moa Arts – Ngalmun Lagau Minaral Arts Centre in 2010 and is currently chairperson.

Solomon resides in his motherland of Kubin Village on Moa Island in the beautiful Torres Strait, located between mainland Australia and Papua New Guinea.  He has lived here since he was 15 years old.

Solomon spent his early years in Darwin in the Northern Territory. As a child he had a fascination with art and drawing. Solomon finished his schooling in Townsville Queensland and went on to complete an ATSI Visual Arts Certificate and Cert IV Training and Assessment.

Solomon joined the Mualgal Minaral Artist Collective in 2000, before it incorporated as Moa Arts – Ngalmun Lagau Minaral Art Centre in 2010.

He was a founding Committee member of Moa Arts.

Solomon states: “Inspired by the beautiful surroundings of my island home my works draw upon Torres Strait and Melanesian influences.”

“Our ancestors were master craftsmen creating ceremonial and other utilitarian objects from wood. This is why I find linocut ideal, because it has a sense of displaying one’s articulate style of carving.”

“A lot of my works are influenced by my people’s lifestyle – from the days of my ancestors to the modern world we are living in today. My ancestors did rock art paintings to tell their stories of their times, which is an inspiration for me to do the same, using modern materials.”