Tracey Ramsay

Born in Wyndham in 1972, Tracey Ramsay’s life has been intricately woven into the cultural fabric of her ancestral Juwurlinji community, Bow River. From a young age, Tracey was immersed in the stories, traditions, and rhythms of Gija culture, and it was within this rich environment that she found the foundation for her artistic journey.Tracey’s early career began in the Warmun pensioner unit, where she cared for the elderly,learning the value of service, respect, and community. In 1987, she married Charlie Cann, and together they raised five children, each deeply connected to the cultural legacy of Juwurlinji. It was in this nurturing environment, surrounded by her own family and the legacy of her people, that Tracey’s artistic spirit began to flourish.After living and working briefly in Warmun, Tracey returned to Bow River, where she became involved in the Community Development Program (CDP) while continuing to care for her growing family. Her connection to her heritage and the stories passed down from her elders always remained at the heart of her work.It wasn’t until Tracey began caring for her father, the late Rammey Ramsay, that she was inspired to pursue art in her forties. As she observed her father’s own artistic process, she felt a deep calling to follow in his footsteps, not just as a daughter, but as an artist in her own right.With incredible attention to detail, Tracey began to use ochre, acrylics, and other natural pigments, capturing the landscapes and Dreaming stories of her Gija country. Her work, often focused on the areas of Juwulinji, Black Hill, and the Blow-fly Dreaming, showcases her intimate knowledge of the land and the stories embedded within it.Tracey’s compositions are defined by their curiosity and precision. Each piece invites viewers into a world where the land is alive with the stories of her people, where the past and present merge through the strokes of her brush. Her careful exploration of colour, texture, and form creates works that are both deeply personal and universally resonant.As a member of the new generation of Gija artists, Tracey Ramsay’s quiet yet powerful voice continues to contribute to the ongoing evolution of Indigenous art. Welcomed into the Warmun Art Centre community, she has rapidly become an important figure in the contemporary art scene. Her works resonate with a quiet strength that honours her ancestors while also pushing forward a vision of what the future of Gija art can be.