Clan group: Gunggandji

Philomena Yeatman was born in Cairns, Queensland, in 1960 and grew up in the remote Indigenous community of Yarrabah, south of Cairns, where she continues to live and work.

Philomena is a renowned weaver. Her grandmother taught her how to make woven baskets and mats using pandanus and traditional dyes found on Country. Philomena continues to explore different media, including ceramics, textiles, printing and painting. Through her art she maintains important cultural connections to Country and the traditional ways of life she learnt as a child growing up in Yarrabah.

Philomena has an extensive exhibition history. Her work was is included in the National Museum of Australia exhibition, Belonging: Stories from Far North Queensland, in 2022.

She is represented by Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct, Yarrabah, Queensland.