SHEENA WILFRED

Born 1967
Wagilak clan
Ritharrngu / Kriol Language
Dhuwa Moiety

Group Exhibitions
     
1997
Gertie Huddleston and Sheena Wilfred Huddleston
Shades of Ochre Gallery
Darwin, Northern Territory

1998  
Contemporary Territory
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

1999  
Collected Works
Karen Brown Gallery
Wentworth Hotel
Sydney NSW

2000  
Selected Artists
Karen Brown Gallery

2000
Melbourne Art Fair
Royal Exhibition Building
Melbourne, Vic

2000  
Biennale d’Art Contemporaine de Noumea
Tjibaou Cultural Centre
New Caledonia

2002  
Selected Artists
Karen Brown Gallery

2002
Melbourne Art Fair
Royal Exhibition Building
Melbourne Vic

2009
Rising Stars Modern Classics
Karen Brown Gallery
Darwin NT

2010
Retrospective
Karen Brown Gallery
Darwin NT
 
     
Solo Exhibitions
     
1997  
Sheena Wilfred Huddleston
Shades of Ochre Gallery
Darwin, Northern Territory

1997  
Sheena Wilfred Huddleston
Gallery Gabrielle Pizzi
Melbourne,Vic

1998  
Sheena Wilfred Recent works
Karen Brown Gallery
Darwin, Northern Territory

2000  
Spear Grasses
Karen Brown Gallery
Darwin, Northern Territory

2001  
Spear Grass and Bush Flowers
Karen Brown Gallery
Darwin, Northern Territory

2002  
Sheena Wilfred Recent works
Karen Brown Gallery
Darwin, Northern Territory
     
   
Awards Exhibitions
     
1997  
14th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award 1997
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

1998  
15th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award 1998
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

1999  
16th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award 1999
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

2000  
17th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award 2000
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

2001  
18th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award 2001
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory

2002  
19th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award 2002
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
     
     
Collections
       
Karen Brown Collection
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Kerry Stokes Collection
McAlpine Collection
Kaplan Collection
 
Sheena Wilfred was born at the Ngukurr hospital in 1967. That building is now rarely used as a disco and recreation area for Ngukurr kids. The ‘old mission’ handed over the administration of the Ngukurr community to the Government in 1968 and now Ngukurr is run by it’s local council which includes traditional elders and landowners, however the mission foundation is still strong. Sheena remembers going to church with her mother as a young child, and today there is an ongoing involvement in church activities amongst the older members of Sheena’s family.

Sheena moved to Numbulwarr with her parents when she was about twelve. She remembers a strong missionary presence there as well, throughout her 2 years of schooling, Sheena finished with school when she was fourteen, moving back to Ngukurr and working sometimes with CDEP programs.

When Sheena was twenty six she married Henry Huddleston. This marriage was arranged by her parents and Henry’s parents.

During this period Sheena spent a lot of time travelling between Ngukurr and Numbulwarr. Sheena’s mother and aunty’s taught her to collect and process fibres and weave baskets and dilly bags. She also learnt about bush foods and medicines. This knowledge clearly demonstrated in her works detailing Bush Culture.

Her mother’s traditional family group, the Wagilak, come originally from the Numbulwarr area and only arrived in Ngukurr during the 1940’s. The Wagilak people are part of the larger Rirrthangu language group which is now predominant in Ngukurr. Sheena herself speaks Kriol, English, Wagilak and Mirriwilli languages.

In 1998 Sheena left Ngukurr and Henry moving to Darwin and changing her name back to Sheena Wilfred.

Sheena now resides permanently in Darwin and enjoys her life with her young sons.

Over the years Sheena has developed a unique painterly style of many small brushstrokes in bold colour and design.
‘Sheena applies painterly fields of colour of vibrancy and spontaneity equal to anything produced by the Fauves.’
Her use of reds,oranges,blues,yellows,pinks and purples emphasise the seasonal mood of her landscapes from Dry season to the Wet season. Not only does Sheena paint naive figurative narratives,she also paints abstract paintings titled Bush grass and Bush Flowers.

Sheena has been represented in a number of exhibitions Nationally and Internationally in recognition of her fresh, unique style and interpretation of her country.

Karen Brown
Karen Brown Gallery

Comments made by Margie West – Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory