Naomi Hobson is a multidisciplinary artist working across painting, photography, and ceramics. Living in a former church on the ancestral lands of her grandparents in Coen, Queensland, her practice is rooted in personal and cultural identity. Her vivid abstract works reflect the landscapes, stories, and traditions of the Kaantju, Umpila, and other local language groups, capturing the energy of Country through dynamic composition and colour. Recent travels across South East Asia have further enriched her perspective, introducing new layers of cultural and visual influence.
The township of Coen, located at the base of the McIlwraith Ranges in Cape York Peninsula, is surrounded by rainforest, open woodland, and river systems. Despite the disruptions of colonisation, Aboriginal people in the region have maintained strong ties to their land, often through work on pastoral properties. Hobson’s own family has a history of political activism and cultural preservation, and her work continues this legacy—offering a powerful visual response to land rights, identity, and community through a distinctly individual style.
Since 2008, Hobson has exhibited widely in Australia and internationally. Her works are held in major institutional collections including the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia, and the National Gallery of Victoria. In 2023, she completed a significant tapestry commission for the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. “My Aboriginality is what grounds me,” she states. “Art gives me the freedom to express who I am in new and meaningful ways—to share my stories and innovate, not imitate.”
