Darren Cooper
Darren Cooper is an acclaimed Australian Aboriginal muralist and artist from the Wiradjuri people. He began his self-taught journey into painting in the late 1990s in Coffs Harbour. In the early 2000s, Cooper relocated to Sydney, where he operated the Redfern Art Studio from 2003 to 2007, focusing on commercial design.
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In 2008, Cooper was awarded a scholarship to study for a Visual Arts Degree at Deakin University in Geelong, from which he graduated in 2009. Currently residing in West Wyalong, New South Wales, he works with the Burrunju Aboriginal Corporation.
For over 25 years, Cooper has been trading under the name Koori Creations. Swarovski Crystal World has showcased his work in Innsbruck, Austria, and he has received recognition, including an NSW Tourism Award for his murals. His range of traditional and contemporary artifacts, including boomerangs, didgeridoos, necklaces, and wood carvings, are noted for their originality and craftsmanship.
Key milestones in Cooper’s career include participating in the Temora Rural Museum exhibition in 2013 and creating murals for the Condobolin WCC in 2011. In 2010, he completed a project for the West Wyalong Land Council. In 2007, he was commissioned by the national initiative Beyond Blue, which resulted in a highly successful project valued at $11,000. His contributions to the Redfern area were acknowledged in 2006 when he opened his Koori Creations studio to the public, and his work was featured in the Koori Mail, a national Indigenous newspaper.
Numerous commissions and exhibitions, both in Australia and internationally have marked Cooper’s career. Highlights include creating five drawings for the People with Disability Australia Incorporated in 2004, meeting Aboriginal artist Gordon Syron in 2003, and showcasing his work at the Black Fella Dreaming gallery. He opened a shop in Redfern in 2003, participated in the 10th Mil-Pra Aboriginal Art Exhibition in Liverpool in 2002, and created a large mural for the Swarovski Crystal World winter festival Dream Time-Tracks in 2001.
Cooper has been dedicated to promoting Aboriginal culture and art throughout his career. His early years included a significant mural project at St. Augustine Catholic Primary School in Coffs Harbour in 1993 and involvement with the Yarrawarra Aboriginal Corporation. Cooper’s journey as an artist began with a cultural course in 1993, where he was mentored by three Aboriginal elders, marking the beginning of his dream and identity as an Aboriginal artist.
Darren Cooper’s career is a testament to his dedication to his craft and his cultural heritage, continually inspiring and educating through his art.