Robert ‘Tommy’ Pau – CV
b. 1967, Townsville
raised Cairns/Thursday Island
Lives Cairns
Tommy is a descendant of the Eastern Torres Strait Islands, Australian Aboriginal, Papua New Guinea, Pacific Islander and Asia. He speaks Torres Strait Creole and Australian English. He was taught about the need to keep culture strong through cultural practice by his father. He has a strong commitment to keeping old traditions alive and believes that culture must remain true to the past and move with time to exist in the future. Tommy has considerable experience in the arts and his art forms of choice include printmaking, painting and sculpture.
Tommy was a semi-finalist in the Telstra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 2017 and was the winner of the Works on Paper section of the 2016 Award. His works are in major public and private collections in Australia. He is passionate in representing Indigenous arts and artists in general and the protection and true representation of Torres Strait Islander arts and culture.
Study
2021 Study towards BA (Philosophy), Macquarie University, Sydney
2018 Study towards BA in New Media, James Cook University, Cairns
2013 Certificate IV in Governance, The Learning Workshop, through UMI Arts, Cairns
2013 Diploma of Visual Art, TAFE, Cairns
2012 Diploma of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Visual Arts, TAFE, Cairns
2010 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Cultural Art, TAFE Cairns
2009 Diploma of Information Technology (Networking), TAFE Cairns
2009 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, MW Training Consultants, Cairns
2008 Certificate III in Information Technology, TAFE Cairns
1999 Bachelor of Education, James Cook University, Townsville
1997 Associate Diploma of Education (Community Teaching), TAFE Cairns
Exhibitions – Solo
2017 Torres Statesmen, UMI Arts, Cairns
2015 Ad Wer (Sacred Stars), Gecko Studio Gallery, Fish Creek, Vic.
2011 Exploration of Mediums, UMI Arts, Cairns
2013 Before Television, August Feature Wall, KickArts Cairns
Exhibitions – Group
2021 Explore Sydney Contemporary – Paper, Sydney Contemporary Art Fair, Sydney NSW (online)
2021 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Cairns (online)
2020 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Cairns
2018 Alumni Exhibition, UMI Arts, Cairns
2017 Finalist Exhibition, Telstra Indigenous Art Award, Darwin
2017 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, exhibiting with Umbrella Studio
2016 Winner, Works on Paper Category, Telstra Indigenous Art Award
2014 Freshwater Saltwater, UMI Arts, Cairns
2013 UMI Arts Member’s Exhibition
2013 Works on Paper exhibition, Tanks Art Centre, Cairns
2013 Salt Water, Fresh Water – Touring Exhibition organised by UMI Arts, Cairns
2013 Salt Water Fresh Water, UMI Arts Exhibition during Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Cairns
2013 Finalist, Works on Paper, National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award, Museum of Arts & Sciences, Cairns, NT
2013 Naissance, Cairns Regional Art Gallery, (exhibition featuring 7 emerging artists from the Cairns region)
2013 We Three, Banggu Minjaany Gallery, TAFE, Cairns
2012 Gaban Bagarra Meets Mazal (Rainforest Meets Coral Seas), SACI Gallery, Florence, Italy
2012 Group exhibition Cairns Regional Art Gallery, Cairns
2012 Group exhibition, UMI Arts, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Cairns
2012 Beautiful Spaces Pop Up Group exhibition, Cairns
2012 Banggu Minjaany Art Gallery, TAFE Cairns
2011 Prints, Graduating Exhibition, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Diploma of Visual Arts, Banggu Minjaany Gallery, TAFE Cairns
2011 Coloured Flavour, Banggu Minjaany Art Gallery,TAFE Cairn
2011 Cancer Council Fund Raiser, Banggu Minjaany Art Gallery, TAFE, Cairns
2011 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Exhibition, KickArts Cairns (aka Centre for Contemporary Art)
2010 Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Exhibition, Banggu Minjaany Art Gallery, Cairns TAFE
2010 Digital Journey, Banggu Minjaany Art Gallery, Cairns TAFE, (Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Exhibition)
2010 Our Style, Banggu Minjaany Gallery, Graduates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Certificate III/IV in Cultural Arts, Cairns TAFE
Commissions
2012 Booklet and Mural for Queensland Health Cancer Unit
2011 Designed a Tie for Minister of Mines and Energy in collaboration with Certificate IV in Cultural Arts and Fashion students, TAFE Cairns
2011 Animated Backdrop for Biwa Dance Company, Cairns
2011 Colour in book for Queensland Fire and Rescue, Cairns
2011 ABC series The Straits commission: Four Boys (linocut print) and fish paddle blade (wood carving)
Bibliography
2011 May – ABC Radio National interview by Karen Dorante on exhibition Exploration of Mediums
2011 May – Torres News, interview on exhibition Exploration of Mediums
2011 April – Koori Mail interview on exhibition Exploration of Mediums
2011 April – Cairns Sun article on exhibition Exploration of Mediums
2011 Pathways 2, exhibition catalogue UMI Arts, Cairns
2011 Featured artworks in ABC series The Straits (BALA Production): Four Boys (print), Fish Paddle Blade (wood carving)
Collections
Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney, NSW
University of Melbourne, Vic
Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), Brisbane, Qld
+ many private collections
