Fiona Foley in London

The powerful works of Australian Indigenous artist Fiona Foley will be exhibited in London this month at one of the world's cutting-edge art spaces, Queensland Premier and Minister for Trade Peter Beattie has announced.

Mr Beattie said the Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA) has partnered with Brisbane Art Curator Andrew Baker and The October Gallery in London to present Fiona's first commercial solo showing in the UK from October 19.

"Fiona has done much to raise the profile of Australian urban Indigenous art and her exhibition Strange Fruit promises to be an entertaining and thought-provoking visual journey," he said.

Fiona's sculptural installations and photographs are today represented in all major public collections in Australia. Both at home and abroad her work - sometimes angry, satirical, often humorous and always political - has generated interest.

The artist was born in Badtjala, Fraser Island, Queensland in 1964 and her work often draws inspiration from her unique life history as an Indigenous woman growing up in a community with a living memory of being forcibly removed from the island at the turn of the 20th Century.

Through her connections with Indigenous communities in Queensland, the Northern Territory and elsewhere in Australia, combined with her overseas travel, Fiona is a respected advocate for Queensland Indigenous art.

"While Fiona's art contains strong references to the disempowerment of Indigenous people, there are also great stories of strength woven throughout," said the Premier.

Mr Beattie said the relationship developing between London's The October Gallery and Queensland Indigenous artists was significant.

"Fiona's exhibition is the third in a series of four projects by the Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency, Andrew Baker and The October Gallery and it is growing interest in our very talented Indigenous artists as well as creating new opportunities for export," he said.

The October Gallery is regarded as the first London Gallery to exhibit innovative contemporary art from cultures around the world.

"It really is a coup for the Queensland Government agency to have secured such a commitment from this gallery.

"It will hopefully open many more doors for Queensland artists looking for an international audience."

Mr Beattie said the Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency was a Queensland Government initiative to drive the international and national marketing of Queensland's Indigenous arts industry.

"The agency concentrates on building strategic partnerships and promoting the industry through marketing and exports and it is proving to be a highly successful model for building what has become an integral sector of our Smart State's Creative Industries."

Previous exhibitions involving QIAMEA, Andrew Baker and the The October Gallery have been Uncharted Territory: The Lockhart River Art Gang (2006) and 'nother side, Rosella Namok's first commercial exhibition in the United Kingdom (2004).

Media Contacts:

Premier's Office 3224 4500

Queensland Indigenous Arts Marketing and Export Agency (QIAMEA)
Helena Gulash, Director
Tel: (07) 3238 3146

Contact for Fiona Foley in Brisbane:
Andrew Baker Art Dealer
26 Brookes Street
Bowen Hills Queensland 4006
AUSTRALIA
07 3252 2292 (BH)
0412 990 356 (Mobile)

Contact for Fiona Foley in London:
The October Gallery
24 Old Gloucester Street
Bloomsbury
LONDON WC1N 3AL
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel. + 44 (0)20 7242 7367
Fax: + 44 (0)20 7405 1851