DANIELLE MATE SULLIVAN
Danielle is a contemporary Aboriginal artist born in Fairfield Sydney NSW, an urban community that is a far reach from remote dust of Brewarrina where her mother came from. Danielle acknowledges her culture through the Kunja peoples of the Cunnamulla region in South Western Queensland. Her respect extends to her broader family and their special places on both sides of the Queensland and New South Wales boarders as they play an important part in shaping who she is today.
Danielle found an early connection with Art while at school and describes this time as a period of personal expression and learning about her own culture in an environment where identifying as a young Aboriginal person amongst a predominantly non-Aboriginal urban community was a difficult thing to do. Her family influences and passion informed her in deciding on formal study undertaking a Bachelor of Creative Arts – Visual Arts and Design, at the University of Wollongong in NSW. Whilst studying, an early recognition of her amazing talent was being selected as one of seven finalists Australia wide in the Dolly Magazine Career Start Competition. As the only Aboriginal artist chosen in the top seven, she was selected for her unique style and vibrant use of colour.
After successfully completing her degree in 2000 Danielle then married and commenced a career in youth health services sector of NSW and as a part-time Artist. Here she shared her knowledge of the Arts through the many youth health education activities and programs. Danielle found working with young people, particularly students in high school tremendously rewarding. Giving them the chance and the gift of art, brought her great love for engaging and teaching. Her work takes young urban Aboriginal people on a journey of self-discovery helping them connect to their culture and create something special that gives them an immediate sense of pride culturally and personally to take forward in their life.
Danielle finds it very difficult to describe in her words ‘why’ and ‘what’ brings about the choices she makes with forming and finishing unique artworks. This flows in her choices to broaden other peoples exposure and experiences with contemporary Aboriginal art. In her words for thousands of years culturally Aboriginal people have been using symbolism and art forms to communicate and recount stories and have not been reliant on the use of labelling or using paragraphs of words to share stories.
Being an active Artist, Danielle has held numerous private exhibitions in NSW, Queensland and the ACT. Her momentum in the contemporary Aboriginal Artist circle continues to rise, receiving great praise and recognition from a growing base of supporters. Danielle has exhibited throughout annual State, Regional and Local group exhibitions, successfully winning and being named amongst finalist of various recognised Art Awards. From these exhibitions Danielle has created much interest in her works that have now become part of private collections across Australia and overseas.
Through her continued focus on her personal and professional presence under ‘DJMate - Contemporary Aboriginal Artist’, many new relationships and opportunities have opened up for her. One relationship in particular has been with the American Embassy in Canberra, where Danielle has had new and exciting opportunities with her art. Notably in 2012 Danielle’s work has become part of the Private Collection of The American Ambassador in Canberra ACT and more recently has become part of President Obama’s Private Collection, The White House, Washington DC.
Danielle espouses nothing is deliberate about what she does, she clearly states she is not trying to send a message or create reaction. What she does is simply relative to where she is from, where she has been and where she is at in her current belonging.
A guiding influence is her love for Artist Emily Kngwarreye, Danielle relates with how Emily ‘moves’ her emotionally, spiritually and physically. Danielle is humbled in likening her situation as an artist to her experience with Emily, offering her work for others to be ‘moved’ and such experiences supporting Danielle in her ‘Why’.
Her more significant centrepiece in all of her work is with no doubt her loving family, in husband Shane, children Ethan, Alix and Beau who all bring daily harmony, adventure and purpose to her life. Danielle has progressively developed herself as a contemporary Aboriginal artist and now presents her talents and services under her business brand of ‘DJMate’. www.djmate.com.au
Danielle’s extensive background is best described throughout her portfolio of achievements below:
Private Artworks
2013 - Ellen DeGeneres
2012 - Private Collection of President Obama, The White House, Washington DC.
2012 - Private Collection of The American Ambassador, Canberra.
Solo and Group Exhibitions
2013
- ACAF Australia China Art Foundation, Arts Can Do Exhibition, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
- Artwork from Parliament Exhibition selected to tour Regional Galleries of NSW
- Selected as a finalist for the 2013 Parliament of NSW Aboriginal Art Prize
2012
- Selected as a finalist for the 2012 Parliament of NSW Aboriginal Art Prize
- New Beginnings, Solo Exhibition, Civic Centre Camden
- Australian Trade Show, American Embassy, Canberra
- Private showing, Canberra
- Tali Gallery, Rozelle
2011
- Presidential Gift Shop, Park Hyatt, Canberra
- Private Showing, Canberra
- Australian Trade Show, American Embassy, Canberra
- Fishers Ghost Art Prize, Campbelltown Arts Centre
- Parliament of NSW Indigenous Art Prize, Parliament of NSW and Campbelltown Arts Centre
- Artwork from Parliament Exhibition selected to tour Regional Galleries of NSW
2010
- Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Campbelltown Courthouse, Campbelltown, NSW
- Festival of Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery NSW
2009
- Rio Tinto Alcan Martin Hansen Awards, Gladstone City Art Gallery, Gladstone, QLD.
2008
- ‘All Together’ NAIDOC Exhibition, Gladstone City Art Gallery, Gladstone QLD
2006
- Art ‘Banya’ Exhibition, Footsteps Art Gallery, Brisbane QLD
2005
- Selected as a finalist for the 2005 Parliament of NSW Indigenous Art Prize,
Parliament of NSW and Campbelltown Arts Centre
- MIL-PRA Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre NSW
2004
- Solo Exhibition, Tree Valley Golf Course, Prestons NSW
2002
- MIL-PRA Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre NSW
2001
- MIL-PRA Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre NSW
- 27TH Camden Art Prize, Camden Civic Centre NSW
2000
- Solo Exhibition, Gledswood Homestead Winery, NSW
1998
- Wollondilly Women, The Oaks, NSW
- Colours of the Deep, Tree Valley Golf Course, NSW
- 36th Festival of Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery NSW
- Regional Aboriginal Artists Exhibition, Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery NSW
- MIL-PRA Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre NSW
- 24TH Camden Art Prize, Camden Civic Centre NSW
1997
- MIL-PRA Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Casula Power House Arts Centre, NSW.
- 35TH Festival of Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery NSW
- 23RD Camden Art Prize, Camden Civic Centre NSW
1996
- Doing Time Doing Dreamtime, Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery and touring Australia
- Stonequarry Festival of Arts and Crafts, AH&I Hall Picton NSW
- MIL-PRA Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, NSW
- 22ND Camden Art Prize, Camden Civic Centre NSW.
Public Artworks
2013 Two artworks purchased by Liverpool Public Hospital
2012 Five artworks purchased by Liverpool Public Hospital
2004 Commissioned by New South Wales Fire Brigade to paint a Community Fire Unit
1997/01 Colourful Campbelltown Mural Project, Campbelltown Bus/Rail Interchange, Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery
1997 Murals in Partnership Project, Dumaresq Street Campbelltown, Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery
Awards
2012 Finalist in the Parliament of NSW Aboriginal Art Prize, Parliament of NSW
2011 Winner of the Liberal Party Aboriginal Art Award, Fishers Ghost Art Prize NSW
2011 Finalist in the Parliament of NSW Aboriginal Art Prize, Parliament of NSW
2010 Awarded at the Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Campbelltown Courthouse, Campbelltown NSW
2009 Winner of the Christian Thomsen Award - Easel Painting Category, Gladstone City Art Gallery QLD
1998 McDonalds Career Start Competition Finalist National
1998 Mayors Choice Award, MIL-PRA Aboriginal Art Exhibition Liverpool NSW
1996 22ND Camden Art Prize, Camden Civic Centre NSW. Awarded Highly Commended NSW | 
