Kutaweirah (King Billy)

Kutaweirah, also known as King Billy, was an Aboriginal elder from the Murchison region in Western Australia. When visiting Perth, he used to stay with friends in camps around Butler's Swamp (now Lake Claremont). In 1913, King Billy met artist and sculptor Alexander Doepel, who lived nearby in Barnfield Road, Claremont. King Billy agreed to sit while Doepel created a clay model head and then cast a bust. The bust now sits in the Claremont Museum. I viewed the bust on my son's school excursion, where I was intrigued by the work and its story and subsequently painted it.

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Aaron studied at the National Art School in Sydney and gained his higher education from the University of Oxford, UK, and the University of New South Wales’ Art and Design, Australia, where he earned degrees in Refugee Studies (MSc) and Fine Art (MFA) respectively.

Aaron uses a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, video and installation. His art practice reflects on the dichotomy and beauty in every day life.

He has exhibited in numerous group and solo shows including: winning the Walter Bennett; being awarded Highly Commended in the Mandorla and the St George Art Award, and a finalist in the Chippendale New World Art Prize, the Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize, the Sunshine Coast Art Prize, the Fisher Ghost and the Blake Prize.