Norma MacDonald

Norma McDonald is recognised as a leading light in Australian painting, who began paving the way for other Aboriginal artists by enrolling as the only Aboriginal art student at Midland college TAFE in 1994. 

Norma won the prestigious Sangora education foundation vocational education & training award in 1995 and later returned to Midland College of TAFE as artist in residence and then a coordinator of the Aboriginal Art Program to oversee a range of initiatives to inspire other Aboriginal art students.

In 1995, Norma received funding from the Australia Council, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts board to research and produce a body of new work.  In 2003, she was a recipient of an Australia Council, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts fellowship. The fellowship enabled Norma to undertake intensive research into the development of the use of oil medium in Northern Europe of the 16-17^th centuries and how these techniques could be incorporated her own contemporary expressions.

Norma’s fellowship allowed her to travel interstates to visit all major art galleries and libraries of Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide. Whilst at the Melbourne Art Gallery, she was able to experience restoration and maintaince work and giving her more insight into the techniques used in the 16 - 17^th centuries.

The fellowship also allowed Norma to complete 32 new works for her exhibition at the Gomboc Gallery Sculpture Park in Swan Hill, Western Australia.  The exhibition was viewed by over 2,000 and 21 of her works were sold.