Tania Major is a Kokoberra artist and prominent figure from Kowanyama, Cape York in Far North Queensland, Australia. Major came to national prominence as an advocate and activist dedicated to improving the lives and educational outcomes of Cape York Indigenous peoples.
With a background in criminal justice, she was the youngest elected regional councillor in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and Youth Ambassador at the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership. Major used her platform to draw national attention to the realities of life in remote communities and engage mainstream Australians in acknowledging and addressing the challenges facing these communities, particularly those in Cape York. In 2007, in recognition of her significant contributions Major was awarded Young Australian of the Year.
Since 2010, Major has led a consulting business specialising in cross-cultural engagement, capacity building and empowerment programs that achieve positive change for Cape York communities by upholding, honouring and building upon centuries-old knowledge.
Major’s artistic practice draws from her Kokoberra cultural heritage and enduring connection to the land and waters of Kowanyama Country. Her paintings and sculptures explore themes of identity and spirituality, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the knowledge held by the Kokoberra, Yir Yoront, (Kokomenjen) and Kunjen clans, the Traditional Owners and descendants of the Lower Mitchell and Alice River of Far North Queensland.
Major’s paintings are recognised for their vivid layering of sunset neon hues, echoing the sunbathed landscapes of Kowanyama County and its sub-tropical light. Major has developed a highly contemporary visual language, bold and assured, that draws upon her knowledge of the seasonal changes and natural rituals of this landscape.
For her sculptural works, Major describes her artistic process as “a collaborative endeavour with the environment, a dance that transforms waste into beauty”. Seeing the potential for profound beauty within overlooked and discarded materials, Major’s sculptures are objects of sustainability and environmental responsibility, formed from re-purposed and recycled materials.
Major has exhibited her works in Cairns, Queensland since 2017. In 2019 her work was included in Home Is Where The Heart Is, a group exhibition presented by the Cairns Art Gallery and she has exhibited at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) in 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
In 2022 Major was awarded the Innovation Award at the Cairns Arts Awards presented at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair for her painting Dragon Flys Everywhere: Coming Into The Dry Season with the panel commending the visual language she had developed in line with her knowledge of seasonal changes.
Major’s career intertwines activism, advocacy, and her art, each facet reinforcing her commitment to community, culture, and environmental stewardship. Through her diverse roles and artistic endeavours, Major continues to inspire and provoke thought, amplifying the voices and knowledge of her people on a national platform.
