21. Jessie Mordey Bauble 2025

Jessie Mordey, Ink, acrylic paint, impasto, glitter on paper mache bauble, L 8cm, W 8cm, D 8cm. 

Jessie Mordey is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman from Tamwoy Town, Waiben (Thursday Island), with ancestral ties to the Dauareb and Komet Clans, as well as the Kemer Kemer Meriam Nation and Wakaid Clan from Badhu (Badu) Island. Her work reflects a deep connection to family, heritage, and cultural identity, with totems passed down through generations grounding her sense of belonging.

Jessie’s intricate patterns are inspired by the body art and artifacts of Torres Strait Islander peoples. Each symbol carries profound meaning, representing the essence of her culture and serving as a visual reference to Torres Strait Islander identity.

True to her artistic style, her bauble is deeply influenced by her connection to the ocean and the plant and animal kin that call the Torres Strait Islands home. Through her art, Jessie honors her ancestry and the rich traditions of her people.

In February 2024, Aboriginal Art Co hosted Apu a Neur Apu a Neur, an exhibition featuring Jessie and her daughter, Tori-Jay Mordey. This powerful exhibition showcased their intertwined cultural heritage, artistic traditions, and personal narratives, offering a unique insight into the continuity of Torres Strait Islander art and identity across generations.