My name is Kelly Taylor and I am an Aboriginal artist from South Australia. I belong to the Yankunytjatjara and Kokatha people, and my paintings are deeply connected to Country, family and the Dreamtime stories passed down to me through my Nana, Millie Taylor (Lennon-Terone).
My painting journey began when I was 11 years old, more than 35 years ago. I was born in Port Augusta and taught to paint by my grandmother, Millie. Growing up, I would watch her paint and listen to her stories, and that is where my own journey as an artist really began.
My early connection to painting and culture was also documented while I was still young. My Nana Millie spoke about me and my painting journey in the book Aboriginal Artists in South Australia. I was also photographed as a young girl standing proudly with two of my canvas paintings in Aboriginal Art and the Dreaming. Looking back at those early memories means a lot to me because they remind me where my journey began, with my Nana, my family and the stories she passed on to me.
Many of my artworks come from my lived experiences on Country, gathering bush foods and bush medicine, visiting waterholes and sacred places, and spending time with family out bush.
My style brings together flowing symbols, layered colour and fine dot work. I paint stories about connection, journey, family, healing and belonging. Through my work, I share memories of life on Country and the cultural knowledge I carry as an Aboriginal woman and artist.
Today, I paint alongside my daughters, continuing a strong family legacy of Aboriginal storytelling through art. That means a lot to me because painting is not just about creating something beautiful. It is about keeping our stories alive and passing them on to the next generation.
My work has been collected across Australia and internationally, and I have been involved in exhibitions, collaborations and commissioned projects with organisations including the Royal Flying Doctor Service, SA Water, SA Power Networks, Northline, Ingham's Australia, Enerven Australia, SANE Australia, the Australian Taxation Office and Disney x Bluethumb. My work and story have also been featured in Vogue Living.
For me, painting is more than art. It is about culture, family, respect and sharing a real connection to Country.