Artist Showcase | Segar Passi
Clan group: Dauareb
Language group: Meriam Mir
Segar Passi was born in 1942 and grew up on Mer (formerly Murray Island) in the Torres Strait. He is a self-taught artist who began painting in the 1960s.
Segar creates works that are based on meticulous observation of marine and birdlife, weather conditions, and scenes of daily life on the island. His choice of subject matter and medium sets him apart from many other Torres Strait Islander artists who choose to work in more traditional styles of carving and mask making.
Originally, Segar created small paintings to teach young children on the island about their culture. Later he developed these into larger, more finished works that tell the stories of living on the islands of Mer, Dauar and Waier for more than fifty years.
Segar’s works are represented in public and private collections.
Solo Exhibition | Highlighted Works
Segar Passi: Meriba Ged A Gur
8 Oct – 11 Dec 2022
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Segar Passi, Dauar, 2014, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Gift of the Blair family in memory of Heather Blair, 2014
Segar Passi, Turtles, 2014, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Gift of the Blair family in memory of Heather Blair, 2014
Segar Passi, Gelam and Atwer, 2008, acrylic on masonite, Collection: Kenny Bedford
Segar Passi, Unity and Strength, 2012, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Purchased with the assistance of the Cairns Regional Gallery Foundation, 2014
Segar Passi, Irmerira Baz, 2015, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Collection: Ewen McPhee
Segar Passi, Totobem, 2015, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Collection: Ewen McPhee
Segar Passi, A young Murray Island man in a mask, 1990, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Gift of David Everist, 2019
Segar Passi, Self portrait, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Collection: Segar Passi
Segar Passi, Torres Strait Pigeon in Wongi tree, 2004, acrylic on masonite, Collection: Kenny Bedford
Segar Passi: Bakei
11 Jul – 21 Sep 2014
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Segar Passi, Torres Strait Pigeon in Wongi tree, 2004, acrylic on masonite, Collection: Kenny Bedford
Segar Passi, Turtles, 2014, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Gift of the Blair family in memory of Heather Blair, 2014
Segar Passi, Lugger, 2014, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Gift of the Blair family in memory of Heather Blair, 2014
Segar Passi, Dauar, 2014, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Gift of the Blair family in memory of Heather Blair, 2014
Segar Passi, Unity and Strength, 2012, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Purchased with the assistance of the Cairns Regional Gallery Foundation, 2014
Segar Passi, Our culture is important, 2012, acrylic on canvas, Private Collection
Group Exhibition | Highlighted Works
Reimagining: Between Tradition and Innovation
17 Oct 2020 – 10 Jan 2021
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Segar Passi, A young Murray Island man in a mask, 1990, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Gift of David Everist, 2019
ARTNOW FNQ 2015
27 Nov 2015 – 17 Feb 2016
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Segar Passi, Ap Gegur, 2015, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Courtesy of the artist
Segar Passi, Irmerira Baz, 2015, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Courtesy of the artist
Segar Passi, Totobem, 2015, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Courtesy of the artist
Ilan Pasin: Torres Strait Art
6 Nov – 31 Jan 1998
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Segar Passi, Fishes of Murray Island 1968, watercolour, John Oxley Library
Collection Works
Resources | Publications