04/09/2026
Meet the Artist: Melissa Ross 🎨✨
We are so excited to highlight the incredible work of Melissa Ross! Melissa is an Anmatjerr artist who recently moved from Ti Tree (NT) to Bendigo, and her talent is truly world-class.
You can usually find her most weeks at the The Bendigo Showgrounds Market, but we had to share this recent personal project. Melissa took a pair of moccasins and turned them into a breathtaking piece of functional art. The detail is incredible!
Check out the facts below to learn more about Melissa’s amazing heritage. 👇
1 The Land: Melissa hails from the Ti Tree region, a lush horticultural hub about 190km north of Alice Springs. It is famous for its fruit-growing and the historic Ti Tree Station, returned to its traditional owners in 1976.
2 Artistic Legacy: The Anmatjerr (or Anmatyerre) people are world-renowned for their art. The region includes the Utopia community, home to legendary artists like Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
3 The Dreaming: Anmatjerr culture is centered around ancient "Songlines" or Dreaming stories, such as the Honey Ant, Bush Potato, and Water Dreamings. These stories serve as maps of the land and its history.
4 Heritage: The Anmatjerr language and traditions have been passed down for tens of thousands of years, maintaining a deep, unbroken connection to the Australian desert.
