When an exhibition draws near, Bancroft paints in 17-hour
shifts, fitting in domestic chores around her work. “I take a quick break
to put the washing on, then back to it,” she says.
Bancroft’s love of art emerged at a young age. “As a
child I used to enter colouring-in competitions to win money as our family was
quite poor,” she says. It was then that Bancroft realised she could turn
her talent into a career.
A descendant of the Bundjalung people, Bancroft spent her
childhood in Tenterfield, a small country town in NSW. When she was
17-years-old, she left to study for a diploma in visual arts at the Canberra
School of Arts.
Bancroft returned to Sydney
after graduating and had a brief flirtation with fashion design – painting
fabric which a friend would turn into clothing. However, the fashion industry
did not give her a warm welcome. “I took some designs to David Jones to be told: ‘we’re not doing primitive this
year’,” she recalls.
After hearing: ‘Does she think she is the Aboriginal Jenny
Kee?’ one too many times, Bancroft decided the fashion industry was not for
her.
Since founding her company, Designer Aboriginals, in 1985,
Bancroft has exhibited her work throughout Australia and overseas. She has
also illustrated a number of children’s books.
Her art explores the environment and the earth – her biggest
inspirations. “I am in love with the process… and nature and the world
around us,” she says. “Nature provides such beautiful things.”
Bancroft is also passionate about advancing the rights of
indigenous people in Australia.
This has let to her appointment to national committees such as the National
Gallery of Australia
and the National Indigenous Arts Advocacy Association.
Bancroft’s endless inspiration from nature and her
determination to showcase Aboriginal culture, has won her domestic and
international acclaim for something she does with passion and love.
Photo: Bronwyn Bancroft surrounded by her work.
Source: University
of Technology Precinct
South Sydney Edition Issue 4/2007 page 18.
Publications from the UTS School of Journalism can be
found online at www.journalism.uts.edu.au/future_students/student_publications.html
and at www.reportage.uts.edu.au/