Selena Furnari Indigenous Art

Selena Furnari Indigenous Art Proud Mamu woman & contemporary Indigenous artist from Far North Queensland. Creating art that connects culture, country & community.

‘Mandubarra Tree’ - Acrylic Monotype PrintThis print holds the story of my Mandubarra ancestors and the way we honour th...
18/06/2026

‘Mandubarra Tree’ - Acrylic Monotype Print

This print holds the story of my Mandubarra ancestors and the way we honour those who walked before us. In our old ways, when someone was deeply loved, a leader, a knowledge holder, or a family member whose spirit guided many, their remains were kept safe and placed inside the hollow of a ficus tree.

As time passed, the tree grew around them. Its roots folded gently like arms and its bark thickened as it held their memory. The person and the tree became one, spirit woven into wood, breath returning to Country.

For our people, these trees were not just plants. They were ancestors standing tall. They held stories, names, and the quiet strength of those who shaped our community. When we walked past them, we walked with respect. When the wind moved through their leaves, we heard the voices of those who had become part of the land again.

This artwork is a tribute to that connection, the way Mandubarra people return to Country, and the way our loved ones continue to stand with us, rooted in the rainforest and watching over the generations who follow.

🖤💛❤️

‘Everywhen’ - Acrylic on canvas 🖼️This Dreamtime painting is a spiritual tribute to the ancestral beings who shaped the...
12/06/2026

‘Everywhen’ - Acrylic on canvas 🖼️

This Dreamtime painting is a spiritual tribute to the ancestral beings who shaped the land and continue to guide its people. Featuring five powerful Mamu totem animals: the Mopoke Owl, Freshwater Eel, White Cockatoo, Cassowary, and Willie Wagtail. The artwork weaves together stories of creation, guardianship, and connection. Each totem holds deep cultural significance, representing the presence of spirits who brought life to Country and continue to watch over it. The Mopoke Owl, with its haunting call, symbolises wisdom and the quiet guidance of the spirit realm. The Freshwater Eel moves through the painting as a life- giver, flowing between waterholes and nourishing the land. The White Cockatoo calls to the skies, a messenger between worlds. The Cassowary, a protector of the rainforest, stands firm and ancient, grounding the people in their ancestral strength. The Willie Wagtail, lively and clever, dances through the story as a communicator between spirits and humans.

Together, these totems form a sacred narrative; a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. This painting is not only a celebration of the Dreamtime, but a living connection to the spirits who continue to walk beside their people, guiding, teaching, and sustaining life across generations.

The Colours of the Water 🌊“The Colours of the Water” is a story of connection, understanding, and unity. Inspired by the...
11/06/2026

The Colours of the Water 🌊

“The Colours of the Water” is a story of connection, understanding, and unity. Inspired by the meeting of the North and South Johnston Rivers in Innisfail, this artwork reflects the way separate paths, stories, and people can come together as one. The rivers travel through Country carrying their own spirit and history before joining together to continue forward in strength and harmony. In the same way, communities grow stronger when people walk beside one another with open hearts and minds.

For First Nations peoples, water is life, spirit, memory, and belonging. The rivers are living entities that hold the stories of Ancestors and generations before us. They remind us that connection to Country is not only physical, but deeply spiritual and emotional. The flowing waterways within this artwork symbolise the connection between people, land, culture, and community, showing that everything is intertwined and guided by respect.

This artwork explores the idea that true discovery comes from listening and learning from one another. It reflects how understanding another person’s story can change the way we see the world and ourselves. Like water shaping the land over time, empathy and knowledge have the power to soften hearts, challenge perspectives, and create growth.

Created for National Reconciliation Week 2026 and inspired by the theme “All In,”this artwork represents the importance of every person playing a role in reconciliation. “All In” is about moving forward together, not standing on the sidelines, but actively choosing understanding, respect, and unity.

It is about communities, cultures, and generations coming together to build a future grounded in truth, healing, and shared responsibility. Within the artwork, the colours flowing through the water represent diversity, emotion, healing, and hope. Bright and layered tones reflect the many voices that make up our communities and the beauty that can exist when those voices are heard and valued equally.

As a First Nations artist, this artwork shares the belief that Country teaches us how to care for one another. The rivers do not resist each other when they meet; they flow together, carrying both stories forward.

“The Colours of the Water” is an invitation for viewers to reflect on their connection to people and place, and to consider what it truly means to be “All In”, to listen deeply, walk together respectfully, and contribute to a future where reconciliation is lived through action, understanding, and unity.

Connection to Country and community is the foundation of this artwork. 🩵 Created in collaboration with Community Support...
11/06/2026

Connection to Country and community is the foundation of this artwork. 🩵

Created in collaboration with Community Support Centre Innisfail for National Reconciliation Week, this piece reflects the rivers, pathways and relationships that shape life on Mamu Country. It carries the spirit of the land and the stories that continue to guide us.

As a Mamu woman, I have always seen art as a way of learning and listening. Our stories live in the water, the rainforest and the memories shared by our Elders. When we bring those stories forward, we create space for understanding, respect and genuine conversation. This project reminded me how powerful it is when community organisations choose to walk alongside Traditional Owners with openness and care.

This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, All In, speaks to the shared responsibility we all hold. Reconciliation is not a single moment. It is the ongoing commitment to learning, building relationships and honouring the truth of the Country we stand on.

I am proud to share this artwork with my community. I hope it encourages others to reflect, listen and continue walking forward together with respect and unity. 🖤💛❤️

Mamu LandSea Rangers Community Support Centre Innisfail Inc

Photo credit 📸 : Liz Stevenson

Having fun with Lino Printing! This one is called “Scrub Chicks” 🖤💛❤️ A5 with acrylic ink.
10/06/2026

Having fun with Lino Printing! This one is called “Scrub Chicks” 🖤💛❤️ A5 with acrylic ink.

“The Insect Tribe” In this old Dreaming story, the animals gather to understand the mystery of death. When a cockatoo su...
06/06/2026

“The Insect Tribe”

In this old Dreaming story, the animals gather to understand the mystery of death. When a cockatoo suddenly dies, Eagle‑hawk and Crow try to explain what has happened, using pebbles and the river to show how a spirit can leave one form and return in another.

As winter comes, the insects disappear into the earth. Only to return in spring as butterflies, dragonflies and beetles, shimmering with new life. Their transformation reveals the truth: the spirit never ends, it simply changes shape.

The story then shifts to the ancient Bee Men, fierce warriors whose final battle leads to their bodies turning to stone while their spirits rise again as bees. From that moment on, their honey becomes a gift to future generations. A reminder of resilience, renewal, and the deep connection between people, Country and the natural world.

“Reef Riders” - As a proud Mamu woman, my work is deeply connected to the stories, spirit, and living landscapes of Far ...
29/04/2026

“Reef Riders” - As a proud Mamu woman, my work is deeply connected to the stories, spirit, and living landscapes of Far North Queensland. Reef Riders shares a Dreamtime story passed through neighbouring coastal communities, of three sisters who transformed into stingrays and became one with the sea.

The Stingray Sisters journeyed across the Great Barrier Reef, their movements shaping the coastline and forming the sandy beaches that hold memory and meaning today. As they glide over the reef, they do so gently, never touching the coral, showing respect for the delicate balance of life beneath the surface. This is a reflection of how we are taught to move with Country, not against it.

Growing up surrounded by the Wet Tropics and the reef, I have always felt a strong connection to the water and the stories it holds. Through this piece, I honour the way these stories are carried; through dance, song, and shared knowledge, keeping culture alive across generations and communities.

Reef Riders is my way of continuing that practice. It speaks to protection, movement, and deep respect for sea Country, while celebrating the strength and grace of the Stingray Sisters as they continue to travel with us.

Side note: The modern “Stingray Sisters” of Maningrida often use the traditional stingray Dreamtime story to reinforce their rights and responsibilities as caretakers of their marine territory in the Top End and FNQ region. The sisters became known for their campaign against a proposed oil and gas exploration project that threatened their sacred sites and fishing grounds, documented in the film series “Stingray Sisters”. The story of three young Indigenous women (Noni, Alice, and Grace Eather) fighting to protect their ancestral sea country, which is often intertwined with this ancient tradition.

Mixed media on canvas.

“Coral Home" - This artwork speaks to the living relationships that exist beneath the surface of saltwater Country, wher...
20/04/2026

“Coral Home" - This artwork speaks to the living relationships that exist beneath the surface of saltwater Country, where coral mounts rise like ancient cities and every being plays its part in sustaining the whole. In Mamu culture, the sea is not separate from the rainforest, both are woven through the same ancestral pathways, and this piece reflects that continuity of life, movement, and responsibility.

Scientifically, coral ecosystems survive through intricate symbiotic partnerships: corals shelter tiny algae that feed them; fish clean and protect the reef; plants and microorganisms recycle nutrients that keep the waters alive. Culturally, these relationships echo the teachings passed down through generations, that all life is interconnected, that balance is maintained through reciprocity, and that every creature has a role in keeping Country healthy.

On this coral mount, the artwork brings together these two ways of knowing. It shows a world where marine life lives not in isolation, but in constant exchange, a visual reminder that the reef is a community, a teacher, and a living relative. The piece honours the deep time knowledge of the sea and the scientific truths that continue to affirm what First Nations people have always understood: life thrives when everything works together.

Acrylic on canvas.

Jaban Jujaba “Spotted Eel Dreaming”This artwork shares the Dreaming story of the spotted eel, a totem animal moving thro...
05/03/2026

Jaban Jujaba “Spotted Eel Dreaming”
This artwork shares the Dreaming story of the spotted eel, a totem animal moving through the freshwater rivers of Mamu Country. The eel swims with purpose beneath the surface, while canoes pass overhead, carrying men who travel the waterways to hunt and provide for their families.

The freshwater eel holds deep significance for me. It is one of the five totem animals of my rainforest clan, the Mamu people of the Wet Tropics. This totem has been carried through generations. It belonged to my grandmother, passed down to her by her own grandmother, and it continues to guide and connect me to my lineage, my culture, and the stories of our rainforest.

Every tattoo tells a story. I create bespoke Aboriginal tattoo designs that weave culture, art, and your personal journe...
24/09/2025

Every tattoo tells a story. I create bespoke Aboriginal tattoo designs that weave culture, art, and your personal journey into one powerful piece.
✨ Unique. Personal. Meaningful.
📩 Enquiries open now.

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Gimuy
Cairns, QLD

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