We are thrilled to announce Takariliya — meaning “family”, the first solo exhibition of Palawa artist Thelma Beeton. Launching on Thursday 17 April, at Fitzroy Library and running until 20 July 2025. This exhibition centres on her maternal family, starting with her grandparents and extending to her great-nephew. It is a testament to Thelma’s dedication to her art and her community.
With family ties to Cape Barren Island off the northeast coast of Tasmania, most of Thelma’s work is inspired by her totem, the Tasmanian Emu. A former graffiti artist, she first started creating work with The Torch in 2016. Reflecting on her beginnings, Thelma shared, “I kind of got inspired, especially when I went into prison. It was a bit of a competition between girls in there.”
Thelma’s journey is one of remarkable strength and resilience. She overcame struggles with addiction and experienced homelessness but found a different path through art and a deep connection to her cultural identity. While incarcerated, she connected with other women and formed powerful friendships, like the one with fellow artist Stacey Edwards with who she shared the Banj Banj/Nawnta exhibition with and now share a residency at Boyd Studios. She recalls, “When I found out that my mob is Palawa and that my totem is a Tasmanian emu, I was off like a firecracker.”
One of her favourite experiences with The Torch program was reconnecting with her culture.
“It’s taken me back to where my family comes from, Cape Barren Island. Dark Mofo invited me along to their festival to be a part of it, and The Torch supported me through it. I never thought that I’d ever get there. It was always a dream.”
Thelma sought out this exhibition opportunity herself, demonstrating incredible initiative and determination. Working closely with The Torch Indigenous Arts Officer Flick Chafer-Smith, she secured a grant for materials and researched the language and stories that infuse her artworks with deep cultural significance. Her paintings feature her iconic emus that represent family members who are still with her or have passed, symbolising the enduring connection to culture.
The exhibition is on display at Fitzroy Library, next door to Blak Pearl, a space that has been instrumental in supporting Thelma’s artistic practice. Her work will be available for purchase at the exhibition, offering a unique opportunity to own a piece of her inspiring journey.
“It means so much to me when people buy my artwork because it’s kept me out of jail, it’s given me a better life, and you know I couldn’t be happier. I’m definitely eager to keep going, and I don’t see the end of it, so I think I’ll be an artist forever.”
– Thelma Beeton, Palawa people