Photos by Gibran Sjahana
(Care Together, Strong Together, 2025)
505x691cm
Collaboration with Taring Padi, Sharyn Egan, Ilona McGuire, Yabini Kickett, and Tyrown Waigana for the Art Gallery of Western Australia
More info
Commission for Perth Festival 2025
Photos by Aaron Claringbold, courtesy of Perth Festival
Executive Producer/Creative Lead, Ilona McGuire
Animator/Art Director, Tracey Kim
Sound Design/Composition, Envelope Audio
Commissioned by Law Society WA for the Old Courthouse Museum permanent exhibition
Full animation release in 2027
Design and Choreography, Ilona McGuire
Narration, Mitchell Walley
Script, Cass Lynch & Ilona McGuire
Sound Design/Composition, Envelope Audio
Commissioned by First Lights/Fremantle Biennale
Photo by Jarrad Russell
More info
Design and Choreography, Ilona McGuire
Narration and Vocals, Ilona McGuire
Script, Ilona & Walter McGuire
Sound Design/Composition, Envelope Audio
Commissioned by First Lights/Fremantle Biennale
Photos by Duncan Wright
More info
Directed by Luna Laure
Commissioned and Produced by First Lights/Fremantle Biennale
Directed by Luna Laure
Commissioned and Produced by First Lights/Fremantle Biennale
Photos by Cole Baxter
ilona@ilonamcguire.com.au
@ilonamcguire_
Artistic Description
Ilona’s recent large scale works such as Karla Bidi (2025 & 2026), Moombaki (2021), Kooranup: Wadjemup (2023) and Kwejuk Nyitting (2025) have combined ancestral stories with new technologies such as animation, drone light experiences, and sound sculptures. Ilona's creative direction continues to open spaces that invite viewers to experience the innovation of ancient culture, whilst also reclaiming space and time for contemplation of shared histories.
Following her drone light show, Moombaki at the Fremantle Biennale’s 2021 festival CROSSING 21, Ilona was awarded the Schenberg Art Fellowship for Hatched: National Graduate Show (PICA) in her BA Fine Art graduating year. Going on to exhibit at Stala Contemporary, Fremantle Arts Centre, The National 4: Australian Art Now (2023), John Curtin Gallery, Cool Change Contemporary and creating a sequel light show for Moombaki, Kooranup: Wadjemup for the 2023 Fremantle Biennale festival SIGNALS 23. Ilona’s work now features in collections such as Janet Holmes à Court’s and the John Curtin Gallery.
As an artist, Ilona is explorative and open-minded. She is drawn to bold symbols of historical reference and uses isolation to amplify her message, often also equipping irony or humour as a means of connection. Ilona’s creative thinking is shaped by her spiritual and cultural worldview that is grounded in love, family, and care for others. As she continues to explore collaboration, family history, and existentialism, she remains open to artistic outcomes and mediums. Ilona is led by her natural curiosity in the world around her and responds intuitively through intentional discovery processes, often finding resolution through visual, written or vocalised methods.
Ilona often contributes culturally and creatively to special projects. Enjoying the process of sharing, Ilona continues to explore expressions through mixed-medium installations and ephemeral work as well as performance, social practice and collaboration.
Thompson Rivers University, Canada
Our Country Moves Exhibition
Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of Western Australia
March 2026 - Current
Project Officer
Aboriginal Performance, Content
Dept. Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport
2024 - 2026
Creative Director
First Lights
2022 - Ongoing
Artistic Associate
Fremantle Biennale
2021 - 2024
Indelible Marks, Art Seasons Gallery, Singapore (2025)
Relic, Goolugatup Heathcote Gallery, WA (2025)
Benev(i)olent Dreaming, Solo Exhibition, Goolugatup Heathcote Gallery (2024)
Residency Closing Exhibition, Cool Change Contemporary, WA (2024)
Melaut: Sea to See, Cross-cultural Collaborative Performance, Makassar ID (2024)
The National 4: Australian Art Now NSW (2023)
John Stringer Prize, John Curtin Gallery WA (2023)
You’re (Not) Wanjoo, Moores Building Fremantle WA (2023)
Nih! Yeyi Yorga Waangkiny, Fremantle Arts Centre WA (2022)
New Moves, Stala Contemporary, WA (2022)
Hatched:National Graduate Show, PICA, WA (2021)
Residencies
SPACED Circular Economies Residency, Carnamah, W.A. (2025)
Inaugural Breeze: Makassar - Perth Residency, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Makassar South Sulawesi, ID (2025)
Inaugural Goolugatup Heathcote Noongar Residency (2024)
Cool Change Contemporary Residency (2024)
Involvement
Board Member, Tjudah Aboriginal Corporation (Current)
Board Member, Art On The Move (Current)
Board Member, Bibbul Ngarma Aboriginal Corporation (Current)
Board Member, Good Fund Freo (Current)
Board Member, Artist Advisory for Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (23/24)
Revealed Selection Panelist (2026)
Cultural Keepers Program, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (2026)
Special Projects
First Lights Projects
Moortabiny (Kaarkatup, Kings Park, WA), 2026
Kinjarling (Albany ANZAC Peace Park, WA), 2026
Bunggaliyarra Munggu (Hearson Cove, Burrup Hub, WA), 2025
Winthu Wangga (Geraldton Foreshore, WA), 2024
Matariki (ARONUI Indigenous Art Festival, Rotorua, NZ), 2024
Kooranup - Wadjemup (Wadjemup, Rottnest Island, WA), 2023
Buungbaa-ma-ndhu (Ngununggula, Southern Highlands, NSW), 2023
Cowaramup (Gracetown, WA), 2023
Boodja Dwordak Wirn (Kepa Kurl, Esperance, WA), 2023
Moombaki (Walyalup/Derbarl Nara/Dyoondalup, WA), 2021