With the support of Victoria University, the Koorie Heritage Trust is touring our exhibition; Close to You: The Lisa Bellear Picture Show to their MetroWest gallery.
A Minjungbul/Goernpil/Noonuccal/Kanak woman, Bellear was primarily based in Melbourne. She pursued varied interests as an Indigenous activist, photographer, broadcaster, poet, feminist, academic and performer.
Widely admired within the Australian Indigenous community, Bellear documented over 25 years of Indigenous community life. She was rarely seen without her camera, and her informal photographs captured the highs, lows, and moments of tension in community life.
By 2006, Bellear had amassed a collection of over 30,000 images, mostly of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Following her passing in 2006, Bellear’s family donated the collection to the Koorie Heritage Trust.
Curated by close friends, artists Destiny Deacon and Virginia Fraser, and cousin Kim Kruger, this exhibition showcases the significance of Bellear’s photographic collection.
This exhibition tour is proudly supported by Moondani Ballukand VU at MetroWest. The exhibition development was supported by the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and Victoria University.