Family inspires Wiradjuri artist to live, and design, her best life

For Wiradjuri artist Kristie Peters, it’s always been about family. They are her inspiration, her love and her passion.

From the August day in 2019 when she lost her twin brother, and welcomed his sons into her Canberra home she shared with her partner Tim and their six boys, family was always it. Ten boys under the one roof made for some fun meal times, she joked.

A couple of the boys have since moved out, but they remain Kristie’s inspiration – as they continue to be her greatest fans.

“You have no idea how it feels when I hear someone ask them who their mum is and they’ll say ‘Kristie Peters’ – I feel so proud,” she said.

Now one of the country’s most in-demand artists and designers, Kristie’s creations have just gone on show at the Canberra Centre in a collection that celebrates the work of designers from the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA).

The culmination of the best of the best of First Nations art, NIFA alongside the Indigenous Fashion Projects and the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair celebrates innovation, diversity and ethical practices in fashion and textiles.

Kristie said she felt honoured to be part of the showcase collection on exhibition at the Canberra Centre.

“It really enriched my understanding of the fashion industry and it also helped bring the cultural narrative to the forefront,” she said.

Kristie said although she had always loved to paint, her passion for fashion was sparked when she moved to Canberra in her late teens and enrolled in a fashion design course at the Orana Centre.

“It let me explore my Indigenous identity and through design,” she said. “But then life took a different path for me.

“I focussed more on my family, so fashion had to take a back seat. I suppose I was waiting for the right moment to get back into it.

“When my twin brother passed and we took in his boys, we were all going through so much grief.”

She described herself as a shy person, “like a deer in the headlights”.

“But I know my brother wanted me to succeed so through art and design I found a new platform, another way to express my emotions and to move forward in a positive journey that I knew he wanted me to take.

“Everything I do now is a tribute to him. Seeing my art come to life is magical, as it is when I see other people appreciate it.

“If they can find meaning and purpose with stories I share, it means I’m doing something right through my journey. If it’s grief, maybe that can help others the same way it helps me.”

Today, Kristie and her partner Tim are the brains behind Yarrudhamarra Creations. In the Wiradjuri language, Yarrudhamarra means “dream”.

Canberra Centre manager Gary Stewart said the centre was privileged to walk part of the journey with Kristie, “from her debut mural at our centre to her inaugural BlakLabel Dreaming fashion show”.

“Her incredible progress and the passion she brings to her work are truly inspiring, and we’re excited to see her continue to grow and make a difference, alongside other talented First Nations artists,” he said.

The NIFA showcase is on display at the Canberra Centre until 11 September. Open daily, it’s a free exhibition. More information is available online at www.canberracentre.com.au