Artist profile: Natalie Jade

Melbourne-based artist Natalie Jade’s intuitive, soothing works meld traditional Aboriginal painting with contemporary iconography and colour.

Photography Melissa Tonkin / Words Casey Hutton

This photo by The Who Photography & Design

Natalie Jade was already a painter before she discovered her Aboriginal heritage. “It took years of digging and research by my brother to find out about our Aboriginality,” she explains. “We could never trace back past my Nan, and she grew up being told she was Maori. A lot of secrets were kept and lies told to keep us from knowing.”

Finding family in Tasmania and subsequently learning details of their ancestry, says Natalie, had a profound impact on her sense of self and her journey as an artist. With the permission of the elders in her community “to make sure I didn’t do the wrong thing”, she turned to painting contemporary Aboriginal art “as a way to connect with my culture, soul frequency and ancestors”.

Since then, Natalie’s practice has drawn admiration, particularly from the world of interior design. Her paintings use a distinctive colour palette characterised by blush, rust and mustard tones, with gentle aqua and blue accents reminiscent of the ocean. Amidst recognisable Aboriginal marks and symbols, she incorporates images such as shells, palms and rainbows. “I’m an island girl at heart. The ocean and rainbows are a symbol of new beginnings to me.”

As she continues to juggle motherhood and an increasingly busy work life – “I have just hired help with my customer service so I can have more time to do what I love the most, which is paint!” – this year she hopes to open a bricks-and-mortar studio/store. Stay tuned! 

This profile piece appears in Adore’s Heritage Homes edition (Autumn 2021).