Editorial Feature

KTAFA × Homes To Love

Kelly Taylor of the Antikirinya/Kokatha peoples featured in Homes To Love, sharing how painting keeps her family connected to Country — a tradition passed down from her grandmother Millie Taylor.

3

Generations of family artists

35+

Years painting on Country

10

Countries holding our work

SA

Based in Adelaide, South Australia

The feature

A family legacy, shared with the world

Homes To Love profiled Kelly Taylor as part of a feature on Indigenous Australian artists whose work carries cultural knowledge, family history and a deep connection to Country. Each chapter of the feature reflects the traditions that continue to shape the KTAFA family's art today.

Kelly Taylor — A tradition passed down

Feature

Kelly Taylor — A tradition passed down

Artist Kelly Taylor belongs to the Antikirinya/Kokatha peoples and was encouraged and taught to paint by her grandmother Millie Taylor (nee Lennon).

Her artworks are a depiction of her childhood days — camping, hunting and gathering traditional foods, visiting waterholes and rock holes, and sitting by the campfire on Country sharing stories.

Kelly has passed down what she has learnt to her three daughters T'keyah, Kelilah and Taliyah, who are producing equally impressive work alongside her.

Painting helps my mind to relax, so I don't stress and worry, but it also keeps me and my family connected to our country.
Kelly Taylor, in conversation with Homes To Love
Today we still go out camping

On Country

Today we still go out camping

The women's extraordinary paintings are delightfully vibrant and finely detailed, carrying the stories of family life on Country across three generations.

Kelly and her daughters continue to live and practise the traditions that inspire their art — gathering bush foods, collecting bush medicine leaves, and spending time together on the land that has sustained their family for generations.

Today we still go out camping, hunt and gather traditional foods, go walkabout on the land, collect bush medicine leaves, visit all the waterholes and rock holes, sit by the campfire on country sharing stories, enjoying the fresh air.
Kelly Taylor
The importance of authentic Aboriginal art

Context

The importance of authentic Aboriginal art

The Homes To Love feature highlights the importance of purchasing genuine Aboriginal art in preserving and respecting one of the oldest traditions and living cultures in the world.

Because Australian Aboriginal people have no written language of their own, art has always been a central tool in helping to transfer and pass down the story of Country to future generations.

The Indigenous Art Code ensures artists are protected by getting art dealers to commit to treating them fairly, honestly and respectfully — a standard KTAFA upholds in every artwork and every collector relationship.

Making sure you always buy ethically and authentically is not just about protecting the buyer's investment, it's about respect for the world's oldest living culture.
Stephanie Parkin, Chair of the Indigenous Art Code

Continue the journey

Explore more KTAFA collaborations and artist stories