CREATing ART THAT CARRIES OUR STORIES FORWARD
‍Sharing culture, Country, and connection through every painting.

On Manbarra Country, every design has a meaning. Each brushstroke carries a memory, each pattern a teaching. My art is a way to pass on the old stories to the next generation and share them with the world - stories of the sea, the land, and the people who have walked here for thousands of years.

From bold linocut prints to large-scale acrylics, my work is deeply connected to the animals, waters, and Dreaming stories of Palm Island. Each piece invites you to see the world through our eyes - to feel the tides, walk the sands, and hear the stories that keep our culture strong.

Uncle Allan Palm Island
Artist, Educator, Cultural Bridge
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Born in 1961 on Palm Island, Uncle Allan is a Manbarra/Wulgurukaba Elder and one of North Queensland’s most significant Indigenous artists. His art is rooted in the stories taught to him by his father from the age of eight - Dreaming narratives that connect people, sea, and Country.

Over four decades, Allan has blended traditional cultural knowledge with contemporary techniques, creating works that travel from shield-making to linocuts, batik, and large-scale paintings. His imagery celebrates the marine life and saltwater traditions of Palm Island, carrying forward Manbarra stories while engaging audiences across Australia.His paintings are held in the Queensland Museum’s permanent collection and appear in public installations such as the Palm Island Magistrate’s Court, where 12 metres of engraved timber panels bring cultural presence into a space of law. Exhibited nationally, Allan’s work has featured in landmark shows including Gatherings II and Lost Artists of Palm Island.

As the inaugural Traditional Owner Director for the Manbarra people, Allan uses art as a bridge -  teaching young people to know where they come from and inspiring them to carry that knowledge forward. Whether through community programs like the Mingga Mingga Rangers or mentoring emerging artists, his vision remains clear: to ensure culture is not only preserved, but lived and shared.

The Queensland Museum's permanent collection

Queensland Government Department of Housing & Public Works commission

"Gatherings II" in Brisbane

"Lost Artists of Palm Island Exhibition" at Art at the Jezzine Gallery in Townsville