Artist Portfolio.

👋🏿 Wai, my name is Presten and I am a 24 year old Indigenous artist living in Port Lincoln, South Australia. I was born in Port Augusta and grew up in Ceduna and I am a proud Wirangu/Dieri/Kokatha/Mirning/Arabana man.

I am a descendant of the desert & ocean tribes of Australia. I am a country boy, have country blood and country in my soul.

 

Following in my Grandmother's footsteps, art has always been a big part of my life. It is my outlet, my safety, my pride and my church. Art is something my family and my culture have been practising for millennia.

 

I have always been interested in all types of art and I am so passionate about all mediums, forms and tools within the art world and the endless options to create something strange, beautiful and captivating.

Art does something to us. It provokes and stimulates something deep within us that we all share. It is a very special form of storytelling and one which is sacred to my culture.

 

I often lose myself in my own thoughts as I tell my stories through painting. I love that we can all let our imaginations spill out onto canvas with such bewildering colours and uniquely textured details telling stories in ways that words just can't.

 

My mother and grandmother taught me everything I know about art and I am so grateful for the passion they ignited in me.

It feels good to be able to keep this important tradition alive in our family and hopefully pass it on to generations ahead.

 

I live with my partner Troy who runs his own digital design business, Dreamweave and our two Jack Russells Max & Ruby.

Achievements | Awards | Recognition | Projects

Since establishing my art studio in September 2022, my journey as an Indigenous artist and small business owner has been nothing short of remarkable. The influx of opportunities & the level of recognition I have received within such a short amount of time feels surreal. I've met so many amazing people & worked on so many exciting projects it keeps me constantly energised and inspired.

 

I have sold over 250 paintings including 50 private & commercial commissions, received several awards, secured international contracts and travelled across Australia for my work within only 12 months of starting my business. Strangers come up to me in public to tell me they love my art & people even have my designs as tattoos!

I was awarded the People's Choice Award in the Malka Aboriginal Art Prize for my work "Munda" & a NAIDOC Youth Award for my commitment to culture.


I have performed a live painting for hundreds of BHP staff at the Olympic Dam mine site and they have also licensed my designs to apply to their new PPE uniforms.


I am the artist behind SA Power Networks first Reconciliation Action Plan (one of the largest employers in South Australia) and my designs are now featured on their trucks!


I have just been selected as the chosen artist from a pool of exceptionally talented and highly experienced artists to design the artwork for the NDIS Commission's Reconciliation Action Plan, my first contract with the Australian Government!


One of my biggest contracts to date was for international infrastructure corporation, AECOM who commissioned and licensed an exclusive internal 6 metre mural design and a framed artwork for their new office space on the 18th floor of RAA Place in Adelaide.


I was approached by Compass Group Australia to design the artwork which will be used for their internal Pride Month celebrations.


I have licenced my artwork to Saree Selections as designs for a limited edition range of Indian Sarees in honour of Reconciliation Week and the 2023 Voice to Parliament Yes campaign. Eyre Eye Centre has also licensed a large artwork to be installed to a wall within their business.


My first collaboration with another Indigenous owned business will see my designs on glass water bottles made by Kaaiti as corporate gifting.

My second collaboration will see my designs being printed onto school, workplace and sports team uniforms in bulk thanks to Spida Custom Apparel.


My paintings are hung in countries all over the world, inlcluding the headquarters of Enterprise Rent-A-Car in St Louis, Missouri a representation of Australia in their display which features traditional art from each nation in which they operate.


Other businesses to licence my art include GPC Asia Pacifc (Repco) who used a custom design in their branding colours for their First Nations Strategic Plan, RTC Group to promote their new maintenance contract with Housing SA, Peter Teakle Wines who have commissioned an exclusive wine label design for a new range of wines, Aspiring Futures SA who have their logo incorporated into a piece, Supportie who have used artworks extracts to create their business logo, Iluka mine site who have had one of my digital designs printed onto huge aluminum sheets to be installed in their outdoor staff area and Cummins "Our Town" who used my art to promote a mental health campaign.


My artwork was accepted into the OUR MOB Exhibition hosted by the Adelaide Festival Centre.


I was selected as one of eight artists to be hosted by Ku Arts at the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair which was an amazingly inspirational experience being able to be fully immersed in and celebrating my culture.


My first exhibition was held at Peter Teakle Wines Line & Label Restaurant and completely sold out. My second exhibition is to be held at Jacobs Creek cellar door & I will be featuring an artwork within a glass case as part of Westfield Marion's Art Story.


I have been featured in local media on multiple occasions for my achievements. The first major news story written about me & my work was titled "Connecting with the Earth by Walking Barefoot in Nature" by InDaily has been voted as one of the most popular Regional News stories and was nominated for the People’s Choice Award at the 2023 Solstice Media Regional Showcase Awards.


Other major news stories published about my work include an article by the National Indigenous Times Style Up titled "First Nations artist Presten Warren on career growth, artistic expression and championing Indigenous culture", an article by Visit Gay Australia, a national network of tourism professionals and information provider dedicated to the welfare of LGBTQIA+ travellers within Australia titled "Local Queer Icons – Emerging Aboriginal Artist Presten Warren" and an article by Bluethumb, an art collector website titled "Rising Stars to Watch in 2024".


One of my first pride themed artworks is currently on display at Westfield Marion.


Painted Studios has been chosen as a finalist for the Best New Business Award in the National Self-Employment Association Awards, the Australian Business Awards, the Australian Young Entrepreneur Awards & the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards and I cannot wait to show you what happens next!

Artist Services.

100% Indigenous Owned & Operated.

© Painted Studios by Presten Warren 2024.

Website designed by Dreamweave

Afterpay available.

International shipping.

I acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of the land we live and work on. I extend my respects to Elders, both past, present and emerging; and recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.