13. Desirai Saunders Bauble 2025

Desirai Saunders, Acrylic paint on paper mache bauble, L 17.5cm, W 16cm, D 7cm.

Desirai Saunders is a proud Gunggari digital illustration artist whose work blends bold character design with contemporary reflections on Aboriginal cultural identity. Her vibrant and expressive illustrations centre powerful First Nations characters, drawing on cultural strength and urban influences to create emotionally charged portraits that explore resilience, connection, and modern storytelling.

Desirai proudly acknowledges her Gunggari heritage, with strong ancestral ties to the Maranoa River region in Queensland. Her practice is deeply connected to the strength, stories, and survival of her people.

Her bauble reflects her creative practice, featuring the face of a unique fictional character beaming from inside a foam star - a playful and expressive extension of her illustrative work.

Desirai is the current Artist-in-Residence for the 2025 Safe Space Residency Program and will have an exhibition with Aboriginal Art Co in February 2026 as part of her residency.