The River Report: Natalie Davey

Natalie Davey, 'River Report,' film still
Natalie Davey, 'River Report,' film still

As artist Natalie Davey explains, “The River Report is a five-day map of when our normal Yitilal (wet season) turned into a major disaster and we were once again displaced. There are no stories in our 1,000s of 1,000s of years to describe this event, as climate change is rapidly reordering the flow of our country.”

This 10-minute film will be on display in Gallery 3 from June 19 to July 12

Natalie Davey

Natalie Davey is a multidisciplinary artist from Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Of Bunuba, Walmajarri, Scottish, and English heritage, she is a custodian of Bunuba Danggu Muway and is deeply connected to her culture and community.

Natalie’s practice spans photography, soundscapes, painting, and multimedia art. She spends much of her creative time at Mangkaja Arts and recently won the Multimedia Award at the 2024 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) for her work “River Report,” which reflects on the 2023 Fitzroy Crossing flood disaster.

As a producer and broadcaster at Wangki Radio 936AM, Natalie works alongside her father to present the award-winning morning language program “Danggujarra,” furthering her commitment to preserving and sharing her culture.

From a young age, Natalie has been drawn to the camera, using it as a tool to explore the natural world and document her surroundings. Her art serves to process and understand her experiences, combining seasonal observations, language, and multimedia storytelling. Through her work, Natalie strives to foster cultural understanding and bring people together, blending artistic exploration with community healing and connection.

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April

Canberra: 27 Feb until 20 July 2025. The National Library has invited renowned Australian photojournalist Mike Bowers to select some of his favourite images from the Fairfax Photo Archive.

Brisbane: Until 13 July 2025. Amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954) extraordinary images lay dormant for decades until they were discovered only recently. This exhibition is curated by seven Brisbane photographers.

Sydney: Until 31 Dec 2025. PIX, Australia’s first pictorial news weekly, is brought to life in this exhibition, showcasing its archived images and stories for the very first time.

Sydney: Until 30 June. The photographs in Max Dupain: Student Life were taken at the University of Sydney in the early 1950s, a period of rapid change marked by the politics of the Cold War.

May

Sydney: 15 May – 19 October. Showcasing 100 incredible images, this remarkable exhibition offers a window into the astonishing variety of life on our planet – and the critical importance of preserving it.

Sydney: Until 14 June. With a career spanning fifty years, his virtuosic artistry continues to unfold in powerful, haunting images that explore the timeless mystery of the human condition.

Perth: From 31 May – 28 Sept 2025. Featuring 85 works from three major series – Deep Springs, Overpass, and Cross Country – the exhibition spans twelve years of Contis’s evolving photographic practice.

June

Sydney: Until 6 July. Presenting the results of the 2025 World Press Photo Contest, the annual exhibition showcases the best and most important photojournalism and documentary photography of the last year.

These two exhibitions explore the migrant experience and integration into Australian culture.

Melbourne: June 5 - 16 August 2025. The explore the history of Alan Adler's photobooths and their cultural significance, alongside visual stories told by the community.