Boorloo-based creative arts and consultancy firm Birli Gallery & Press is championing talented First Nations artists, launching engaging collaborations.

Brooke and Jeff Farrell named their 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned business with the Wadjarri word for "together", reflecting the firm's mission to foster truth, treaty, unity, and cultural connection through art, storytelling, and education.

The business is committed to uplifting marginalised voices and creating spaces for culturally rich expression.

"As the owner and director, I'm across every part of the business, from finances and logistics to partnerships and long-term planning. Being a Malgana/Wilinyu man, my culture is central to how I lead and what I prioritise," Mr Farrell said.

"Before stepping into the visual arts, Birli started as a small publishing house. Over time, our passion for creative expression naturally expanded into the visual arts. We began representing artists, managing public art installations, and negotiating commercial contracts for First Nations creatives. That journey eventually inspired us to create a dedicated space, somewhere that not only supports and showcases incredible local work, but also serves as a true home for our artists."

"We reclaimed January 26th for ourselves by opening Birli Gallery in Midland, Perth on this date. It's a contemporary art space that gives a platform to both emerging and established artists. We've built something that's inclusive, thoughtful, community-driven and something that we want our artists to be proud to share with us. Birli means "together" in Wadjarri, which is the first non-English language I started trying to learn, and for me, that name really captures the spirit of what we're doing, bringing people together through art, culture, and shared stories."

When discussing the business in greater detail, Mr Farrell shares what his role entails.

"Birli Gallery is 100 per cent Aboriginal owned and operated. I grew up in Jambinu amongst my dad's family, but his mob were originally from the Mingenew/Three Springs area. My mother's family are from Gathaagudu. As owner and director, I oversee the business side of things, managing the operations, finances, and strategic partnerships, while my wife Brooke, who is my primary school sweetheart, leads exhibitions, commissions, and public art projects," he said.

"My cultural identity, cultural responsibility, visibility and connection to community play a big role in everything we do. I'm constantly thinking about how we can amplify First Nations voices, protect artists' rights, correct perspectives and create meaningful opportunities that honour both the individual and the culture they represent."

Mr Farrell shares that the gallery's selection process is grounded in cultural integrity, personal connection and artistic vision.

"In the beginning, we focused on supporting family and friends, mob who were incredibly talented but often unfamiliar with how the art world works behind the scenes. Things like commercial contracts, intellectual property, gallery representation, they're all really important, but not always accessible," he said.

"We wanted to change that by creating a safe and empowering space where First Nations artists could be fairly represented and celebrated.

"Since then, our artist network has grown into something pretty special. We exhibit amazing creatives like Shauna Narrier, Aaron Nannup, Peter Farmer, Peter Farmer Jnr, the late Shane Pickett, and Nicole Dickerson. All these artists are special and connected to us and we are proud of the relationships we've built and the stories we're able to share through their work. Our selection process is grounded in cultural integrity, meaningful personal connection, artistic vision, and a clear sense of where each artist sees themselves in the next five to 10 years. We work closely with artists and their families to understand their goals and make sure their work is presented in a way that respects both the art and its cultural context."

Farrell notes that the gallery and team do offer offer guidance, mentoring, and opportunities to help build confidence and experience.

"We meet emerging artists where they are, wherever that may be in their journey. With Brooke's invaluable industry insight, we understand just how challenging it can be to navigate the art world, and we couple this with my intricate knowledge of what it is to be Blak in this fast-changing modern society," he said.

"With this in mind we offer guidance, mentoring, and opportunities to help build confidence and experience. We love pairing new artists with more established creatives, including non-Indigenous, cross cultural collaborators, to encourage cross-cultural exchange and deeper storytelling. It's all about creating space for growth, connection, and shared learning."

When looking ahead, the Farrells are excited for the business to further expand and reach a new range of artists and art lovers.

"Since opening the gallery, we have seen firsthand how important a space like this is. We've gone from an idea to a thriving cultural hub that's connecting people, uplifting artists, and challenging the way the industry usually operates," said Mr Farrell.

"It's been a big journey, but one that's deeply fulfilling, there's nothing more special than hearing from young and old Blackfullas: 'this is my first time in an art gallery ever'.

"Looking through 2025 into the future, we want to keep growing our impact, both in the gallery and beyond. We're offering more artistic consultations now, helping artists navigate the industry in a way that's culturally safe and empowering and with a long term strategic view. We're also involved in developing other emerging galleries, art trails, and installations, which is exciting.

"Bringing in emerging artists will always be a priority. Supporting fresh talent is how we keep the creative community strong and evolving. We are also working on securing more public art contracts so we can get more First Nations work into bigger, more visible spaces, places where the public can engage with the stories, culture, and beauty of our people.

"At the end of the day, everything this gallery and our space does comes back to building strong creative communities, spaces where artists can thrive, culture is honoured, and collaboration leads the way. That's what Birli is all about."

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