Digby Moran facts for kids

Albert Digby Moran (1948-2020) was an amazing Aboriginal artist from Australia. He found inspiration for his paintings in the stories and traditions of his Bundjalung ancestors. They lived in the northern part of New South Wales, Australia. Digby Moran is still known as one of the most important artists from the Northern Rivers area.

About Digby Moran's Life

Digby Moran grew up on Cabbage Tree Island, which is located on the Richmond River in New South Wales, Australia. His father was from the Dunghutti people, and his mother was from the Bundjalung people.

From a young age, Digby learned from his grandfather, Robert Moran. His grandfather was a skilled wood carver. Together, they made cool things like boomerangs and walking sticks.

When Digby was older, he worked as a cane cutter, which means he helped harvest sugar cane. He also spent some time as a boxer with a traveling show called Jimmy Sharman's troupe.

Later, Digby returned to his first love: the art of his people. In 1991, he finished an arts course at TAFE, which is a type of college in Australia. He became a well-known artist both in Australia and around the world. Digby Moran passed away in Lismore in January 2020.

Digby Moran's Art and Work

One of Digby's early artworks was called 'Lizard and Snake'. He made it for a local Aboriginal organization. This painting showed the creation story of the Goanna headland at Evans Head.

In 2006, Digby had an art show called Memories of the Island at the Tweed River Art Gallery. His work was also shown in the I Saw The Sun - East Coast exhibition in 2007. This show was at the Lismore Regional Gallery. He exhibited alongside other great artists like Jenny Fraser, Frances Belle Parker, Fiona Foley, Ian Abdulla, and Vincent Serico.

Sadly, many of Digby's artworks were lost in the Lismore floods of 2017. However, in 2018, the Lismore Art Gallery presented a new exhibition of his work. It was called 'Growing Up on the Island'. This show helped make him even more famous as one of Australia's top Indigenous artists.

Digby was asked to paint large pictures, called murals, for different places. In 2014, he painted murals for Woolworths in River Street, Ballina. In 2019, he painted more murals at St Joseph's School in Woodburn. He also had his own special art show at the New South Wales Parliament in 2010.

Digby Moran's art was shown in many countries around the world, including:

• Berlin Aboriginal Art Gallery (2001/2)
• Vienna New Media Gallery (2003)
• Museum Hamelyn, Germany: 'Energy of the Earth' (2004)
• Duisburg, Germany (2009)
• Emmerich, Germany (2009)

Digby often visited schools to work with children. He taught them about art and his culture. In his later years, he also helped out at Namatjira Haven, which is a place that helps people get better.

Awards and Recognition

Digby Moran received several important awards for his art:

• He won the People's Choice Award at the National Aboriginal and Islander Telstra Art Award in Darwin in 2000.
• He was a finalist for The New South Wales Parliament Aboriginal Art Prize in both 2011 and 2012.