If you want to experience the strength, beauty and depth of contemporary Australian culture, Otis Hope Carey is an artist you need to know. A proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man, Carey’s work blends the power of First Nations storytelling with bold, modern expression. His large-scale paintings—featuring fluid, wave-like forms—speak to ancestry, healing, connection to Country, and emotion, often rooted in the ocean and water systems of his heritage.
Otis is more than just a visual artist. His practice extends far beyond the gallery walls. You’ll find his iconic motifs on surfboards, fashion collaborations, murals, and even performance pieces. Whether it’s painted on canvas or stitched into a jacket, his work always pulses with spirit and cultural resonance. As a former professional surfer, his connection to the ocean is inseparable from his art. He doesn’t just paint water—he lives it, breathes it, and honours it.
What I love most about Carey’s work is its ability to hold space. His lines feel meditative and intentional, drawing you into a place of stillness and cultural memory. There’s both power and softness in his paintings, like a quiet rhythm that grounds you the longer you stand with it.
Otis also brings a sense of emotional vulnerability into his pieces. His artwork often explores mental health, identity, and the ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma—making it deeply personal and healing, not just for him, but for others too.
Whether experienced in a gallery, on the street, or through the fabric of your clothes, Carey’s art makes an impact. It reminds us that Indigenous culture is living, evolving and expansive—and that it’s found everywhere, not just in museums.
Otis Hope Carey is, for me, one of Australia’s most powerful contemporary artists.
To see some of Otis’ amazing artwork head to the China Heights Gallery online.
Otis Hope Carey Gumbaynggirr Bundjalung First Nations contemporary artist | China Heights
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