Baluk Arts is the only Aboriginal-owned and led art centre in southeast Victoria © Baluk Arts
Aboriginal Art from Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula
Baluk Arts is an Aboriginal owned and led community art centre and gallery in Mount Eliza, the gateway to the Mornington Peninsula. It is the only Aboriginal art centre of its kind in the southeast of Victoria. The centre supports Aboriginal artists from the region and across Australia, providing a place for cultural expression, career development, and audience engagement.
The word “Baluk,” from the Bunurong and Boonwurrung languages, means “many” or “group of people.” This reflects the centre’s community focus and the diversity of its artists. Baluk has become a space where family groups and members of the Stolen Generations reconnect with culture, sharing histories and stories through their artistic practice.
Artists at Baluk work in painting, sculpture, weaving, wood carving, kelp works, prints, jewellery, photography, and textiles. Their artworks explore identity, cultural heritage, and connection to Country in a contemporary context. These works are shown in the gallery, at partner exhibitions, online, and in national and international art fairs.
Baluk Arts also takes on collaborations, public art commissions, workshops, and murals. Projects often bring artists together to create large-scale works that honour Aboriginal culture and engage wider audiences.
Among the centre’s well-known artists are Lisa Waup, whose practice explores identity and belonging, and Tallara Gray, whose sculpture and weaving respond to the Peninsula’s landscapes. Their works, along with those of other members, contribute to a growing recognition of urban Aboriginal art in Australia.
Through its commitment to artistic excellence, cultural wellbeing, and community leadership, Baluk Arts ensures Aboriginal art and culture from the southeast of Victoria continues to thrive and reach new audiences.
Baluk Arts at a glance
- Origins: Aboriginal owned and led, established as the only art centre of its kind in southeast Victoria.
- Language/Culture: Rooted in Bunurong and Boonwurrung Country; the name “Baluk” means “many” or “group of people.”
- Art Style: Painting, sculpture, weaving, kelp works, prints, jewellery, photography, and textiles.
- Cultural Significance: A hub for reconnection, especially for Stolen Generations, and a voice for urban Aboriginal artists.
- Recognition: Artists such as Lisa Waup and Tallara Gray are nationally recognised; works exhibited across Australia and overseas.
