Billy J. is a proud Wiradjuri man and emerging artist who recently joined The Torch program. His practice draws deeply on personal story, cultural knowledge, and lived experience.

Through bold symbolism and storytelling, Billy explores themes of connection to Country, family, identity, and transformation. His totem, the king goanna, features strongly in his work, not only as a cultural guide and provider, but also as a symbol of strength and resilience.

Billy’s artworks reflect his journey: from a life once defined by struggle, what he describes as a “triangle life”, to one filled with new direction and purpose. His stories of camping with family near Caboolture, feeding goannas by hand, and the wisdom passed down through generations offer insight into a deep and enduring relationship with culture and land.