Darryl Dempster, Fragments of Joy 1.

Darryl Dempster is a proud Noongar man, born and raised in Kepa Kurl (Esperance), Western Australia and moved to Boorloo (Perth) in his early adulthood. Embarking on his creative exploration in 2019, Darryl uncovered his innate talent and passion for artmaking, using vibrant colours and energetic painting gestures to communicate his rich inner world.

Darryl is an artist living with limited verbal abilities and uses a combination of hand gestures and sounds to communicate. Painting helps Darryl to feel grounded and connected; it’s an activity that he looks forward to in his daily life. 

He had his first solo exhibition, DooDoo, at Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre as a spotlight artist from Revealed 2024. He has since gone on to exhibit at Fremantle Design Week 2024 and his work was recently acquired by the City of Melville, City of Fremantle and Apparatus. 

He was selected by Reconciliation WA as the key street banner artist and commissioned by Development WA. Darryls painting Snails In My Garden, 2024 has been selected as the artwork to feature on the new public toilet build in the City of Fremantle, Beach Street.

Darryl was selected as a finalist in the TELSTRA NATSIAA (National Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Art Awards) Awards at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) in 2025 and 2026 for the General Painting Award. A selection of works were displayed at Outstation Gallery in the NT as a prelude to his upcoming 2026 solo exhibition in the space.

Darryl’s residency is supported by the WA Government through the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost delivered by ART ON THE MOVE. He is joined by his support worker, Talei Mackenzie and studio mentor Ariel Katzir.