Kenny Diamond

Yinjaa-Barni Art

Kenny is a Yindjibarndi man who was born and grew up in Roebourne. WA. Kenny started doing art in mid-2001 as part of a tertiary education course at Cossack.  He has always been interested in art but hadn’t had the opportunity until then. Kenny has a style unlike any of his fellow artist friends. He cares for colour and dots. He spends a lot of time drawing in his visual diary to sketch his initial designs. He then transfers his designs onto canvas and uses paint for background and detailing.

Kenny has also experimented with various art forms including natural fabric dying, using plants from the Country to colour fabric, mosaic and portrait sketching.

Around 2003 Kenny worked at Roebourne Regional Prison as an art lecturer, supporting artists in the prison to practice their art. He has also worked as a ranger for Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation at the Burrup Peninsula.

It is truly amazing to see his diversity in colour and design. He has used the traditional method of dotting and has used it to suit his purpose. He has a particular neat quality about his work, taking care to dot in detail. Kenny is passionate about painting his Country and culture. Kenny also paints about the history of his people, including local events such as the Cossack pearling era and the Flying Foam Massacre.