Entertainment
27 April, 2025
Talented artist now judge at awards
IN a full circle moment, CIAF’s artistic director and accomplished artist Teho Ropeyarn is returning to the prestigious Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award after 16 years, this time not as a participant, but as a judge.
Mr Ropeyarn has forged his place in the Australian arts scene, earning recognition as an accomplished artist, influential curator and in 2025, as the artistic director for the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) and now as a principal judge for the Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award.
Mr Ropeyarn, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the College of Fine Arts, has collaborated with over 100 artists and curated over 30 exhibitions and has showcased his works nationally and internationally, including the 23rd Biennale of Sydney, Nuit Blanche in Canada and the Queen Sonja Print Award in Norway. He says he recalls entering the awards in a pivotal moment of the beginning of his career.
“I remember my first submission ‘Ikambala’ into the Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award,” he said.
“I was still a student at COFA at the time and I created an oil painting of a crocodile as part of an assessment and I decided to enter it to the award that year.
“I was very nervous so I can imagine many artists completing their works for this year’s award would be feeling that as well.”
Sixteen years later he returns as a principal judge with a breadth of knowledge and artistic achievement and he is encouraging artists of all levels to enter a national award.
“Through the award we get to see a lot of emerging artists coming through the ranks and that’s a positive thing to see because it’s the passing of inspiration, knowledge and culture and that’s how it continues,” Mr Ropeyarn said.
