Billy Missi b. 1970

  • Artist (Printmaker),
  • Artist (Painter)
Painter and printmaker who has won a number of art awards including the Non Acquisitive Prize at the '31st Fremantle Print Awards 2006'. Missi was also Highly Commended in the '5th National Heritage Art Awards 2000'.
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Billy Missi comes from Maluilgal country in Zenadh Kes (Western Torres Strait). He is a part of the Wagedagam Tribe with the major totem of Kodal (crocodile) and an associate member to the Dhanghal (dugong) clan of Panai to the East and the Kaigas (shovel nose ray) clan of Geomu to the South on the Island of Mabuiag.
Missi has grown up in the traditional customary ways of his cultural heritage in the Torres Strait. He comes from a well respected generation of art practitioners and geographers of Mabuiag who have passed down the protocols, practices and heritage of the Torres Strait culture through story telling, songs and dance.
Missi became interested in the concepts of art – drawing and painting, in the early years of his life and in 1999 began developing his artistic ability in the media of sculpture, lino-cut and paintings. His has won a number of art awards including the Non Acquisitive Prize at the '31st Fremantle Print Awards 2006’. His work was Highly Commended in the '5th National Heritage Art Awards 2000’.
Missi is also one of the founding members of Mualgau Minaral Artist Collective, the first printmaking facility based in Kubin Village and a pioneer project in the Torres Strait. His contribution to the Torres Strait arts industry is noteworthy; he has exhibited successfully throughout the region, nationally and internationally. His works of art are held in prestigious international collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum (U.K.), Cambridge Museum of Anthropology (U.K.) and University of British Colombia (Canada).
Through his artwork Missi expresses the importance of his cultural heritage and kinships, and he demonstrates how this has sustained his people to survive for many, many generations in the tropical paradise of Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait).
In 2009 Missi was working out of Cairns, Queensland. His works are published through Djumbunji Press Kick Arts Fine Art Printmaking Studio.

Writers:
KickArts Contemporary Arts
Date written:
2009
Last updated:
2011

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Related recognitions
  • 5th National Heritage Art Awards (received)
  • Non Acquisitive Prize at the 31st Fremantle Print Awards (received)
  • Non Acquisitive Prize at the 31st Fremantle Print Awards (received)
  • 5th National Heritage Art Awards (received)