24/02/2026
It is always such an honour to be invited to an opening of a new exhibition by our dear friend Michael Aird, on Friday night it was the opening of Shields
Now open to the public at the University of Queensland Anthropology Museum, this extraordinary exhibition brings together more than 130 traditional Aboriginal shields each one holding story, region, identity and history.
As shared by Museum Director Michael Aird, the exhibition highlights the regional variation in design from the simpler forms crafted in Brisbane to the intricate rainforest shields of North Queensland. Seeing them displayed by region allows visitors to witness the diversity and sophistication of Aboriginal cultural expression.
There is a beautiful connection between past and present.
Historical shields sit alongside contemporary works by Indigenous artists including Bernard Singleton Jnr, Judy Watson, Paul B**g, Jennifer Herd and Dylan Sarra a reminder that culture is not static. It lives. It adapts. It continues.
There is something profound about standing before these shields objects created for protection, for ceremony, for symbolic warfare and resolution and recognising the strength, knowledge systems and artistry they carry.
This exhibition invites us to look deeper. To question assumptions. To understand the vast cultural diversity that exists across Aboriginal nations.
Open 23 February – 4 September 2026.
If you’re in Brisbane, I highly recommend making time to experience it.
CulturalHeritage FirstNations QueenslandEvents BrisbaneEvents LivingCulture ArtAndHistory CulturalEducation
