RAPHAEL
Raphael Jerripin Boodjarn is a Ngarigo multidisciplinary artist, ritualist, therapist, and teacher. They are Indigenous, Queer, Disabled, neurodivergent, fat-bodied, and a three-time leukaemia survivor. Raphael’s work moves at the intersection of cultural reclamation, embodied resistance, and radical love.
Their practice is rooted in ritual, a living, breathing dialogue between land, body, and ancestry. Through painting, digital art, photography, performance, and ceremonial craft, Raphael honours the enduring lifeblood of the world’s oldest continuous culture while dreaming fiercely into its future. Their art defies the colonial gaze, unapologetically centring the sovereignty, beauty, and complexity of Fat, Disabled, Queer, and Indigenous bodies.
Raphael lives on the road, travelling across these sacred, unceded lands with their beloved dog, Lilith. Together, they make offerings, listen deeply, and bear witness to the land’s teachings. The van is more than a home, it is a vessel of spirit, freedom, and pilgrimage, carrying Raphael where Country calls, reshaping their practice with every journey.
As a witch, Raphael walks within the Reclaiming and WildWood traditions, where earth-based spirituality becomes a tool for radical transformation. Their craft is political and devotional - working with land, spirits, ancestors, and natural cycles to weave spellwork and sacred art that heals, empowers, and resists. At the heart of Raphael’s work is a commitment to magical activism: art as ceremony, witchcraft as rebellion, and creativity as a force for collective liberation.
Artist CV:
Raw: Indigenous art and music exhibition Sydney - 2016
Finalists Burwood Art Prize - 2024
Artist in Residence - Broken Hill Art Exchange - Broken Heel Festival 2024
Artist in Residence - Art Legacy Project - Liverpool Hospital Palliative Care - 2019
Artist Statement:
My work delves into the intricate layers of decolonising Indigenous bodies and sexuality, weaving together themes of sex work, sex positivity, and fat liberation. As an indigenous artist, I confront the historical erasure and objectification of indigenous bodies and sexuality, reclaiming autonomy and agency over our narratives.
Visibility of Indigenous, fat, disabled bodies and sexuality. Through my art, I challenge societal norms and colonial constructs that continue to oppress and marginalise Indigenous peoples. This art series delves into matters of visibility, sexuality and self-expression. Through the beauty and diversity of Indigenous bodies, I aim to disrupt the colonial gaze and foster a space of empowerment and liberation.
What does it look like to decolonise Indigenous sex and body?
Within the realm of sex work, I explore the complexities of choice, agency, and safety. Through my work, I seek to destigmatise sex work and challenge the systems of oppression that perpetuate harm and exploitation.
Embracing themes of visibility and sex positivity, I celebrate pleasure as a radical act of resistance against colonial oppression. By reclaiming our bodies and desires, we defy the constraints of colonialism and reclaim our inherent sovereignty.
Additionally, my art embraces fat liberation, challenging mainstream beauty standards and advocating for body inclusivity. By centering the experiences of fat individuals, I aim to dismantle the harmful narratives that perpetuate shame and self-hatred.
Ultimately, my work is a celebration of indigenous resilience, resistance, and resurgence. It is a call to action for decolonisation not only of our bodies and sexuality but also of our minds and spirits. Through art, we reclaim our power, rewrite our narratives, and envision a future rooted in liberation and sovereignty.