Celebrated artist Lloyd Gawura Hornsby is among the contributors to a major new exhibition at the National Museum of Australia, Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese People in Australia. His work offers a powerful window into a personal family history that reflects broader themes of resilience, cultural connection and identity.
A proud Koori man and descendant of the NSW Aboriginal Yuin People, Hornsby has contributed two paintings—Coming to Australia and New Beginnings—to the exhibition. The pieces pay tribute to his great-grandfather James Ahoy, who migrated from China to Australia in 1897 during the gold rush, settling in Braidwood, New South Wales. There, James met Ellen DeMestre, Hornsby’s great-grandmother. Together, they raised a family of three, including Hornsby’s grandmother, Ellen Ahoy.
The works, deeply personal in nature, reflect not only Hornsby’s own lineage but also a broader, often overlooked, history of Aboriginal and Chinese connections in Australia. Coming to Australia portrays the courage and perseverance of migration, while New Beginnings celebrates the union of two cultures and the generations that followed—culminating in Hornsby’s upbringing in Stanthorpe, where his grandmother raised her family.
“As an artist, I draw on stories passed down through generations. They shape my understanding of who I am and who we are as a people,” says Hornsby. “We must know our history. It helps us remain true to our time and honour those who came before us.”
Born in 1947, Hornsby’s creative path began in childhood and blossomed during his teenage years. His early works—once given as gifts to his future wife Wendy—hinted at a lifetime of artistic exploration. Now 78, Hornsby continues to develop his distinctive style, blending traditional Aboriginal dot painting techniques with bold colour, intricate drawing and deep cultural resonance.
The Our Story exhibition is the result of a three-year research project led by artist and scholar Zhou Xiaoping. It features the work of eight contemporary artists of Aboriginal-Chinese heritage. Through modern artworks, archival material, oral histories and personal accounts, the exhibition delves into the shared experiences of two communities connected by both struggle and strength, and the evolving idea of what it means to be Australian.
“Lloyd’s contributions embody the heart of this exhibition—bringing history to life through storytelling and art,” said a spokesperson from the National Museum. “His work not only honours his ancestors, but invites us all to reflect on the complex, interwoven fabric of Australian identity.”
Our Story: Aboriginal Chinese People in Australia is now open to the public at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra and will run until 27 January 2026. Entry is free.
