Billy Missi

Country/Region: Torres Strait (view other artists)

Tribe: Mabuiag Island

Village: Torres Strait

I first became interested in art when I saw a display of paintings done by local Torres Strait Islander artists in 1992. I was so inspired that I wanted to do the same, but having a family to support, I had to continue crayfishing as I needed a regular income so making art had to wait. Deeply inside of me I really wanted to express my traditional culture through art. Dancing and singing are part of our culture, but when I met Dennis Nona and saw his beautiful prints, I was encouraged to give up diving full time and to study under him in our local TAFE program. We established a printmaking workshop, called the Mualgau Minnaral Art Centre, together through the Kubin Community Council on my island, Moa.

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