Dr Deanne Gilson is a Proud Wadawurrung woman living on her ancestral Country of Ballarat which is located in Australia. Her award-winning multi-disciplinary art practice has spanned forty years full time creating through painting, clay (sculptural installation), fashion & textile design, photography, drawing and recently being included as an upcoming Blak Jewellery Designer.

Celebrating her continued living culture through art and design that revives traditional marks used by Wadawurrung family, contemporary ceremonial business and including oral stories like her Creation Story. She depicts many indigenous plants, trees, birds, often painting endangered species to highlight the importance of taking care of the land and all living things. Working with the notion that time is traversed and all is connected through layers of Dja (Country), from the Cosmos, to Sky to Under Country. Alongside the issues faced by Aboriginal women stemming from the white male and female colonial gaze.

Deanne is the ATW Regional Artist in Residence, she will undertake their residency from 1 October to 30 November 2025 and will receive $2,000 towards accommodation, travel and stipend costs. They will present their work in an exhibition in the ATW Project Space Gallery. The Regional Artist Residency is generously supported by Alayne Davies in memory of her mother Irene Davies and support artists to attend the ATW residencies through assistance with travel and accommodation.