Uncle

Tony Wilson is a Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Narrunga contemporary artist based in Adelaide. Influenced by his cultural heritage and Country, Wilson’s work explores identity, collective resonance and connectedness. 

Wilson won the prestigious Don Dunstan Award during the 2018 OUR MOB exhibition for this powerful artwork called Uncle – which is an enduring term of respect for male Aboriginal Elders. Wilson explains his inspiration for Uncle: 

‘This painting is an acknowledgement to the leaders in our community. Not only past and present, but also future leaders. It suggests the importance of how our present choices have an impact on the people and environment - now and into the future. It’s about empowering ourselves through empowering others.’ 

Self-empowerment is a central theme in Wilson’s artistic practice. He is passionate about sharing knowledge and connecting with people through his work. As an artist-in-residence at local schools he leads a youth art mentoring program. Looking beyond simply teaching young people to create artworks, these classes aim to foster a place where children can express their feelings and find a way to connect with culture and family through art.