Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, described Lee’s participation as a reflection of Australia’s commitment to sharing First Nations culture on a global stage
Australian First Nations artist, designer and cultural advocate Grace Lillian Lee is set to present her work in India at the India Art Fair 2026, offering Indian audiences a powerful Indigenous Australian perspective on heritage, sustainability and identity.
Lee will showcase The Winds of Guardians, a new body of work deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of the Torres Strait Islands. A descendant of the Miriam Mer Semsep people of the Eastern Islands, her practice draws on ancestral knowledge passed down through generations, blending traditional weaving techniques with contemporary material expression.
Introduced to weaving at a young age, Lee has continued to evolve these practices into large-scale sculptural installations that speak to themes of Country, Indigenous sovereignty and environmental consciousness. Her work honours cultural memory while engaging with the present, creating forms that are both ceremonial and distinctly modern.
At the India Art Fair, Lee will present four monumental structural works titled North Winds, South Winds, East Winds and West Winds, accompanied by a ceremonial Dreamweaver mask. Together, the installations explore wind as both a natural force and a metaphor for movement, memory and the transmission of knowledge across generations.
Inspired by Torres Strait Islander beliefs surrounding ancestors and wind spirits, the works are constructed using materials including cotton webbing, cotton twine, cane, mirror acrylic and electrical rubber shrink tubing. The combination of organic and industrial materials reflects the ongoing dialogue between tradition and contemporary life.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, described Lee’s participation as a reflection of Australia’s commitment to sharing First Nations culture on a global stage.
“Rooted in tradition yet unmistakably contemporary, Grace’s work demonstrates how ancestral knowledge continues to inform and inspire new artistic expression.”
Speaking ahead of her visit, Lee expressed admiration for India’s rich craft heritage and cultural traditions, saying she was honoured to engage in conversations centred on Indigenous knowledge and cultural exchange. She noted that her practice pays tribute to her ancestors while reviving traditional weaving techniques to preserve cultural narratives and celebrate the guardians of her heritage.
As part of her India visit, Lee will take part in curated engagements, including an in-conversation with Raw Mango founder Sanjay Garg, facilitated by High Commissioner Green. Her work will also feature in a subsequent exhibition at the National Crafts Museum, enabling broader public engagement and dialogue between Indigenous Australian and Indian artistic practices.
Lee’s presentation forms part of wider cultural initiatives placing First Nations stories at the heart of Australia’s cultural outreach in India, following projects such as Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters and the Kirikin fashion showcase.
