Indigenous Designed collection

To be seen. To be heard. To be connected.

As the oldest continuous culture on earth, Australia’s Indigenous Aboriginal people, their histories rich in culture and ceremony, have inhabited the country we call Australia, for tens of thousands of years.

A holistic culture centred around their connectedness to country. Land, family, law, ceremony and language all interconnected elements forming the pillars of Indigenous culture. The idea of being ‘on country’ is central to their unique worldview. Where the majority of Australians (non-indigenous) see themselves and the land on which they inhabit as separate identities, our First Nations people live by the belief that the two are merged, interconnected. Their belief that their ancestors emerged from the sea and the sky and that their journeys are central to the creation of all living things. Not just in the past, but the present and the future.

“This land is sacred. It can feel you when you walk through it. All living things can feel you. There was a time when the ancestors walked through the land and the Aboriginal people still feel the ancestors watching them. Knowledge is given from the ancestors to the Aboriginal people through DNA and the same DNA still exists with Aboriginal people right across Australia”. Timmy ‘Djawa’ Burarrrwanga from Homeland, East Arnhemland.”

Bespoke ‘Story-Telling Screens’: A Collaborative Process

Through a collaborative design process with featured artists, our founder Deborah Bauer works hand in hand with both the indigenous artists and clients to take the process from concept through to completion. By understanding the narrative of the space and the connection to country our featured artists bring significance and meaning to the project first through paintings and sketches. With a strong focus on functional design, Deborah then works with our Indigenous artists to bring the screen designs to life in a new functionally intended medium, of decorative metal screens.

Commissioned Artworks
Studio Designed Indigenous Collection
Public Artworks and sculptural pieces
Bespoke Story Telling Decorative Screen Murals and Facades
Major Infrastructure Projects – depicting connection to country for rail projects, roadside fencing and community centres.
Collaborative Community Projects – engaging with communities and their spaces to visual tell their stories
Welcome to Country Acknowledgment pieces for schools, community centres and commercial spaces.

Featured Artist: Kylie Hill

Kylie is a proud Aboriginal woman from Kalkadoon and Waanyi country in Mt Isa/Far North Queensland. An accomplished artist in her own right, Kylie is a generous soul whose connection to country is evident in every piece she creates. She is a story-teller, a mother, a wife, a teacher and an artist – a creator of vibrant paintings which have been represented through many mediums for many applications. Custom paintings; murals in community centres; sporting apparel for local, state and national teams; and coffins for tiny lives lost. Her clients have included (but not limited to):

Softball Australia
Softball Queensland
P.A Hospital
Inala Elders
Sacred Heart Primary School
Department of Child Safety
Red Rose Foundation
UQ University Library
ICC Ipswich City Council
Muri Watch Brisbane
Ipswich Arts Connect
NAIDOC – Inala/Ipswich/Musgrave
G2Konnect
Nunukul Yuggera
Goodstart Early Learning Centres

Indigenous Designed Story-Telling Screens

Kylie Hill for Urban Metal

“Spiritual Journey” Series

“Spiritual Journey II © ”

“Spiritual Journey II ©“ (Triptych)

“Spiritual Journey I ©” (Triptych)

“Spiritual Journey I ©”

“Ancestors Watching Over Us ©”

Acknowledgement of Country

At Urban Metal, we believe Acknowledgement of Country is an important way for us to show respect and demonstrate awareness for the First Nations people as the Traditional Owners and ongoing custodians of the land. It is a significant and meaningful way of recognising and acknowledging the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to their Country.

With an immense appreciation of their culture and stories, our Acknowledgment Of Country , Indigenous-designed series aims to pay respect and increase awareness through a visual, long lasting medium allowing these artwork placards to be installed in a multitude of applications.

Commercial building entry placards
Parks and recreation spaces
Schools & colleges
Nature reserves
Beach entry points
Sports grounds and Stadiums

Personal residential
Council buildings and spaces
Foyers
Galleries
Acknowledgment of Country Decorative Screen Wall Murals (for larger spaces)

Each design has been carefully created by one of our featured Indigenous Artists to ensure each piece is authentic and significant.

Acknowledgment of Country artworks can be purchased from our Studio Design Collection below or we can custom design pieces to suit your requirements. Choose from a range of materials (stainless steel; powder coated aluminium or corten steel). Sizes and shapes can be altered to suit the needs of the application. Exact wording can also be altered and can be location specific, if you know the name of the First Nations of the land where you are .

Ready To Discuss Your Project?

We’d love to hear more about your ideas and to see if we would be a good fit for your decorative screening project.

LET'S GET STARTED