Kyralee Shields Collaboration

Kmart is proud to collaborate with Kyralee Shields, a proud Dharug and Darkinjung artist living on Country. Kyralee’s paintings are a combination of her Indigenous roots and modern contemporary art. Inspired by her mother’s painful history as part of the Stolen Generations and her own vibrant heritage, Kyralee channels her creativity into paintings that honour and recognise her ancestors whilst expressing her cultural identity. Her work aims to capture the beauty, strength and resilience of her heritage, but also reflects the trauma experienced by her family. Through her art, she aims to instill cultural pride in her children and future generations, celebrating the freedom to embrace and express their cultural legacy.

To create our latest homewares range, our Melbourne design team worked closely with Kyralee from start to finish to understand the artwork’s purpose and meaning. This co-collaboration included key steps, such as noting the importance of certain colours, markings and their meaning to Kyralee. This understanding ensured our suggested product extensions were an authentic and appropriate representation of her story and upheld the integrity of her artwork. Together we created products that are not only beautiful and functional, but respectful, meaningful and expressed the story of Dyurali Budyari (meaning ‘Beautiful growth’ in Dharug).

Kyralee’s artworks are an expression of her identity, culture, spirituality and relationship to Country.

“Collaborating with Kmart is a dream come true. It’s allowed me to work with a brand I grew up with who provide quality, on-trend products that are accessible to a wide demographic. It has enabled me to share my art with a wider audience while working with a forward-thinking chain.

Having a brand like Kmart support First Nations artists provides broad exposure to our culture and heritage through art and storylines within the evolving contemporary style, which is important to me.

It's been so gratifying to work on this project with such a wonderful team of people. It’s also been enlightening to see all the different aspects that took my original painting through to the completion of this incredible range that now line Kmart’s shelves.

With this collection, I hope to have a positive impact on established and emerging Indigenous artists. I would like it to encourage them to share their talents and stories through creative endeavours with the broader community. I feel it’s important for younger generations especially to feel proud of their heritage, and for all Australians to celebrate and appreciate our unique culture.”