Emerging Indigenous artist, Kayley Emery, has unveiled a show-stopping 8-metre mural at Western Australia’s Belmont Forum, dedicated to, and named by, the local community.

Belmont Forum engaged the local community to assist in naming the mural, with customers and the community voting on their favourite.

The winning name, Caesia in Bloom, is an acknowledgement for the traditional and medical use of the main flower featured in the mural, which blooms every year.

Kayley, a 19-year-old Wangkatha-Yamatji woman, and recipient of the City of Belmont NAIDOC Award in 2022, crafted the traditional piece over seven days in June to highlight the Indigenous culture and celebrate the connection to the environment and the community.

By incorporating traditional symbols of meeting places, and showcasing the Sacred Kingfisher, a native bird that inhabits woodlands, mangroves and paperbark forests, and is commonly found in the Swan River, the mural represents the importance of community, unity, and our shared responsibility to care for the land and its resources.

Caesia in Bloom, is an acknowledgement for the traditional and medical use of the main flower featured in the mural

Emery said that she is proud to give back to her local community. “I have lived in the City of Belmont for all of my life and it’s really great to be given the opportunity to showcase my culture in such a public way,” she said.

“Creating this mural has been an incredible journey for me. It has allowed me to express my deep connection to nature and my Indigenous heritage while inspiring others to appreciate and protect our environment,” she said.

Belmont Forum Centre Manager Shane McLean said this is the latest of a series of creative pieces that are now on permanent display in the centre. “We believe that public art has the ability to uplift and transform spaces, and this mural is a testament to that belief,” McLean said.

“We are grateful to Kayley for sharing her unique perspective and talent with us and hope this mural will inspire other artists and community members to engage in creative initiatives that promote inclusivity and celebrate diversity within our community,” he said.

Emery is the relative of internationally renowned Western Australian Indigenous artist Peter Farmer who has worked with brands such as Jimmy Choo and Woodside.

The mural is situated opposite the Centre Management office at the K-Mart end of the centre.