Celebrating Darryl’s Journey – NRW

The vibrant red, oranges and blues adorning Darryl Dempster’s rich and lively artwork will most certainly catch your eye this National Reconciliation Week.

We’re describing ‘Snake’s Nest’, WA Aboriginal Noongar artist Darryl’s artwork, which will be proudly displayed on 300 banners across Western Australia.

Darryl’s piece ‘Snake Nest’ stands as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of the Indigenous peoples, blending traditional symbolism with contemporary artistic expression. It encourages a dialogue about the importance of family, nurturing and the natural world, offering a powerful reminder of the beauty that lies in our shared experiences and relationships.

This wonderful opportunity for Darryl is thanks to National Reconciliation Week’s Street Banner Project, an annual initiative coordinated by the outstanding team at Reconciliation WA, and supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

The aim of the initiative is to promote awareness of National Reconciliation Week through banners featuring artwork by an emerging Western Australian Aboriginal Artist.

Darryl Dempster is that artist, and the first Noongar artist living with a disability to be awarded the honour.

Darryl is no stranger to accolades – last year he stood proud as he showcased a complete exhibition at the 2024 Revealed Exhibition, garnering interest from Australia and even notice globally, with plans in the works to exhibit in New York.

Recently, he has been nominated as a 2025 finalist for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards. To add to the acclaim, Darryl will also attend the sold-out National Reconciliation Week breakfast this week in Walyalup (Fremantle), where he will be introduced to over 800 and meet WA Premier Roger Cook.

Darryl is a Rocky Bay supported accommodation customer, residing in a specialist disability accommodation in Gosnells since 2021. It was here, where a simple, but oftentimes inaccessible mixture of the right supports and the right living arrangements, that Darryl found and nurtured his artistic talents.

The rest, as they say, is history.  

The ‘Snake Nest’ banners will be displayed in public spaces across Western Australia from May 27 to June 3, inviting everyone to reflect on our shared histories, cultures and futures.

A range of merchandise featuring ‘Snake Nest’ is now available, with each purchase directly supporting Darryl.

From tea towels, pins, tote bags, gift cards and lanyards, there is a piece of ‘Snake Nest’ memorabilia for all. Buy yours here: https://reconciliation-street-banners.myshopify.com/collections/merchandise

A huge thanks to Rocky Bay Team Leader Talei Mackenzie and Darryl’s Art Coach Ariel Katzir for their unwavering support of Darryl. Talei and Ariel have been truly inspirational, going above and beyond for Darryl. Your care and dedication to his journey are evident to all.

The Rocky Bay team is so proud of Darryl and cannot wait to see what he continues to achieve. The sky is the limit!

Thank you to the Reconciliation team for this exciting partnership with Darryl and the support and opportunity you have afforded him. For the team at Rocky Bay, it’s been a pleasure to see him shine.

Check out Reconciliation WA’s website for more insights into NRW and the Street Banner Program: https://www.recwa.org.au/what-is-reconciliation/street-banner-program/