Date of Birth: 1981
Languages: Kala Lagaw Ya, Creole

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.

In 2000, renowned artist Dennis Nona asked Solomon to join the Mualgal Minarral Artist Collective. The collective later evolved into the Moa Arts – Ngalmun Lagau Minaral Art Centre.

Solomon has completed the ATSI Visual ARTS Certificate and Cert IV Training and Assessment.

He was the founding Committee member for the Moa Arts – Ngalmun Lagau Minaral Art Centre, a role he takes seriously and with great pride and purpose. “This is a most exciting time in my career” he says.

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.”

“The ideas and themes that I produce in my artwork are based on the rich lifestyle and livelihood of our ancestors and the myths and legends and beliefs of our forefathers and mothers. This is where I feel inspired to be a part of recording my people’s cultural heritage visually and proud to showcase this knowledge to the world.”

Recent Exhibitions

• 2023, June | Northsite, Cairns Malu Bardthar Dapar
• 2022, October | Tarnanthi 2022 Adelaide SA
• 2022, August | Darwin Convention Centre Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) 2022
• 2022, July | Cairns Convention Centre Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) Exhibition 2022
• 2021, November | CIAF 21 Online exhibition
• 2021, October | Tarnanthi 21 Online exhibition
• 2021, August | DAAF 21 Online exhibition

Collections

• National Gallery of Australia
• Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, Cambridge University UK
• Queensland Art Gallery
• National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne VIC
• Museum And Art Gallery, NT
• Google Art Culture

Awards

• 2018 National Works on Paper, Mornington Peninsula, Finalist and Acquisition of work
• 2018 Fremantle Art Awards – Finalist
• 2012 21st Telstra NATSIAA – Finalist and Aquisition of work
• 2012 Glen Eira City Council, Melbourne, VIC – Silk Cut Lino Award
• 2012 Gab Titui Indigenous Art Awards – Highly Commended
• 2011 Finalist Silk Cut Awards
• 2011 NAIDOC Community Awards
• 2010 Gab Titui Indigenous Art Awards – Winner

Commissions

• 2015 Torres News
• 2013 Australian Embassy Hong Kong

Words: Courtesy of Moa Arts

Biography courtesy of Moa Arts.