The Artistic Practice of Nici Cumpston
Nici Cumpston is an Australian art photographer, painter, curator, writer, and educator. Her photographic practice involves shooting on black-and-white film, which is subsequently scanned and printed digitally on canvas. These works are then hand-coloured using various media, including watercolour, oil paint, crayons, or pencils. Much of her imagery focuses on the rivers of the Murray–Darling basin.
Her notable works held in collections include:
Professional Career and Recognition
Born in Adelaide, Australia, Cumpston has held significant roles within the arts sector. She served as the inaugural curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) and was the founding artistic director of the Tarnanthi festival. In May 2025, she is scheduled to become the director of the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States.
Throughout her career, she has received several honors, including the Premier of South Australia's NAIDOC Award in 2013 and the Stevie Gadlabarti Goldsmith Memorial Award in 2019. In 2020, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to the museums and galleries sector and to Indigenous art.
