Inspired by her grandmother's stories and the cultural knowledge passed through generations, Bibi's artistic practice combines vibrant colour, distinctive designs and contemporary techniques to express her connections to family, Country, identity and spirituality. Her work has been exhibited and collected nationally and internationally, and her artistic achievements include the celebrated Desert Flower series.
Bibi's commitment to protecting Aboriginal creativity is deeply personal. After discovering that her Desert Flower artwork had been reproduced without her permission throughout a hotel in Poland, she embarked on a lengthy international struggle for recognition of her artistic rights. The experience highlighted the limitations of existing intellectual property protections and strengthened her determination to advocate for Aboriginal artists and their cultural heritage.
Her remarkable journey is the subject of Stolen in Poland, a documentary project exploring the unauthorised reproduction of her artwork and her continuing pursuit of justice.
Bibi has worked with organisations including the Arts Law Centre of Australia, Create NSW and the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage & Arts Association of NSW (ACHAA), to raise awareness of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and educate Aboriginal artists about their rights. She served on the Australian Government's First Nations Expert Working Group on ICIP and has represented Indigenous interests through the Indigenous Caucus at the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Her international advocacy has included participation in discussions surrounding the historic 2024 WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRATK), alongside the continuing effort to strengthen protections for traditional cultural expressions.
More recently, Bibi has brought her artistic experience and longstanding advocacy for Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) protection to the development of IndijiSeal®, an innovative digital initiative designed to strengthen cultural provenance, consent, attribution and the recognition of Cultural Authority.
As a co-founder of IndijiAuthentic Pty Ltd, Bibi is helping shape a future where Aboriginal artists and creators have greater recognition, control and protection over their creative and cultural works. The decision to publish the Dreamboy children's book series under the IndijiSeal brand reflects this commitment, bringing together Bibi's original artistic vision and the principles of cultural ownership, authenticity and respect that underpin IndijiSeal.
The Return of Dreamboy
More than twenty years ago, Bibi created a young Aboriginal character named Dreamboy, inspired by her love of family, culture and the boundless imagination of childhood. Although Dreamboy remained part of her artistic journey, the character gradually faded into the background as life took Bibi in other directions.
Then, after more than two decades, Dreamboy unexpectedly returned to her imagination. His reappearance came at a particularly meaningful time in Bibi's life, bringing with it a renewed sense of connection, creativity and purpose.
For Bibi, there is something deeply spiritual about the timing of Dreamboy's return. Perhaps some stories are simply waiting for the right moment to be shared, guided by connections and influences we cannot always explain.
What began as a character imagined many years ago has now become a new creative journey. Together with Craig Aspinall, Bibi is bringing Dreamboy and his adventures to life for a new generation of children, celebrating imagination, family, Country and the enduring importance of Aboriginal cultural knowledge.
