Image: Wanda GIBSON Colours in the clouds 2026 acrylic on linen QUT Art Collection. Purchased 2026.
This work is acrylic on canvas and measures 76.2 centimetres high by 101.6 centimetres wide. The work is unframed and displayed on a wallpaper with a design by fellow Hope Vale artist, Madge Bowen, who is now deceased. Her family have provided permission for her artwork and name to be incorporated into the exhibition in this way.
The work is a landscape painting of a scene from Hope Vale in Far North Queensland. The work is comprised of two distinct halves, the top half depicting the sky and the bottom half, the land. The focal point in the centre of the painting is a rainbow which arches across the sky, through the clouds towards a bright orange sun on the right with yellow sun beams fanning out from its centre. The arches of the rainbow are coloured dark pink, light pink, light purple, light blue, yellow and green and move across a bright blue vibrant sky on a sunny day. The sun’s rays reflect yellow onto the deep blue ocean which stretches across the middle of the painting from left to right. In the bottom half of the painting, moving from left to right a white wooden fence runs the length of ocean, along the horizon line. The fence is also shown moving across the bottom left-hand corner and up towards the right on a diagonal creating a triangle-shaped parcel of land.
On the far left, behind the fence is a large established tree with green foliage, a figure in a red dress stands near the tree with her left arm reaching upwards. Eight brolgas, large white wetland birds native to this area, are dotted amongst the green pasture within the fenced area. Outside the fence towards the centre of the work are two small brown shelters. On the far-right hand side there is a larger brown shelter with two windows. Moving towards the bottom right, facing the shelter with their backs to us are two more figures, one in a purple dress with white polka dots and another in a blue-green t-shirt and red shorts. In the bottom right-hand corner is a palm tree laden with fruit. Birds fly off into the distance, and it is a serene scene of a beautiful day.
Wanda Gibson, born in Woorabinda in 1946, is a proud member of the Nugal Warra clan and a fluent speaker of the Guugu Yimithirr language. Her totems are the Thagay (Goanna) on her father’s side and Waandarr (White Cockatoo) on her mother’s side. During World War II, Wanda’s family was relocated from Cape Bedford and interned at Woorabinda Settlement. However, following the war, they returned to a new settlement in Hope Valley, now known as Hope Vale.
Joining the Gamba Gamba group (senior women) at the Hope Vale Arts and Culture Centre in 2001, Wanda has established herself as one of the longest-practicing artists at the centre. With a rich family legacy rooted in artistic craftsmanship, she skillfully paints on linen canvas using acrylics and is a talented weaver and master dilly bag maker. Additionally, she creates unique jewellery and designs textiles, further enriching her cultural expression. Wanda completed a Certificate IV in Visual Arts at TAFE to enhance her skills, demonstrating her dedication to her craft and commitment to continuing her artistic journey.