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Matriarchs
2026
2 AP, Edition of 10
560mm x 380mm
Silk screen print on Somerset
Matriarchs honours the strength, wisdom, and enduring presence of the women who came before me. This work captures a memory, a story, and a lineage - not reimagined, but reclaimed through remembering, reconnecting, and acknowledging the foundations laid by past generations.
At its centre is my Nana as a young girl, seated and observing the world around her. Standing behind her are her mother and aunties, their presence embodying protection, guidance, and strength. Together they represent the passing of knowledge through observation, storytelling, and lived experience. As my Nana watches, listens, and learns, she becomes part of an unbroken chain of cultural inheritance carried by the women of our family.
This work reflects the vital role of matriarchs in nurturing identity, resilience, and belonging. It speaks to the responsibility of carrying knowledge forward, rebuilding what was interrupted, and strengthening these foundations for future generations so that culture, memory, and connection continue to thrive.
Brenda Mau is a proud Mandubarra woman and a direct descendant of the matriarchal line of her people in the Mamu language area of North Queensland. She also identifies as a Torres Strait Islander woman from Waiben (Kala Lagaw Ya) and has connections to the Kalkadoon (Kalkatungu), Wuthathi/Mutjati (Paman), and Ngadjon-jii/Ngadyandyi (Ngadyan/Dyirbal) peoples.
Brenda is passionate about being an artist, believing that art connects people through storytelling, truth, laughter, and growth. She uses emotional expression to create beautiful artworks, working primarily in digital illustration but also exploring a range of mediums to bring her concepts to life.
Integrity, respect, and collaboration are central to her practice—values instilled in her upbringing and woven into her creative work. Through her art, Brenda seeks to break down barriers, question the status quo, and strengthen the relationship between First Nations people and the wider community.
Matriarchs
2026
2 AP, Edition of 10
560mm x 380mm
Silk screen print on Somerset
Matriarchs honours the strength, wisdom, and enduring presence of the women who came before me. This work captures a memory, a story, and a lineage - not reimagined, but reclaimed through remembering, reconnecting, and acknowledging the foundations laid by past generations.
At its centre is my Nana as a young girl, seated and observing the world around her. Standing behind her are her mother and aunties, their presence embodying protection, guidance, and strength. Together they represent the passing of knowledge through observation, storytelling, and lived experience. As my Nana watches, listens, and learns, she becomes part of an unbroken chain of cultural inheritance carried by the women of our family.
This work reflects the vital role of matriarchs in nurturing identity, resilience, and belonging. It speaks to the responsibility of carrying knowledge forward, rebuilding what was interrupted, and strengthening these foundations for future generations so that culture, memory, and connection continue to thrive.
Brenda Mau is a proud Mandubarra woman and a direct descendant of the matriarchal line of her people in the Mamu language area of North Queensland. She also identifies as a Torres Strait Islander woman from Waiben (Kala Lagaw Ya) and has connections to the Kalkadoon (Kalkatungu), Wuthathi/Mutjati (Paman), and Ngadjon-jii/Ngadyandyi (Ngadyan/Dyirbal) peoples.
Brenda is passionate about being an artist, believing that art connects people through storytelling, truth, laughter, and growth. She uses emotional expression to create beautiful artworks, working primarily in digital illustration but also exploring a range of mediums to bring her concepts to life.
Integrity, respect, and collaboration are central to her practice—values instilled in her upbringing and woven into her creative work. Through her art, Brenda seeks to break down barriers, question the status quo, and strengthen the relationship between First Nations people and the wider community.
