Cecil Mosquito

Born in 1982 over the Cockburn Ranges in the East Kimberley, Cecil Mosquito’s story begins in the sky. Delivered in a small Cessna aircraft en route to Wyndham Hospital, his name honours both the plane and its pilot, marking an extraordinary beginning to a life deeply grounded in Gija Country and culture.

Raised in Warmun, Cecil is the seventh child of Jock and Doreen Mosquito. His early years were shaped across Turner Station, Warmun and Cattle Creek, spending significant time with his grandparents, David and Judy Turner. These formative experiences instilled a deep connection to Country, Law and ancestral stories, learned through lived experience, ceremony and everyday life.

Cecil carries strong cultural lineages. On his mother’s side, his grandmother Judy is a Gija woman from Jarloolu (Frog Hollow), and his grandfather David Turner was from Turner near Elvira River, belonging to the Nininjara and Mulungin clans. On his father’s side, Jock Mosquito carries Nininjaru and Gurindji heritage. These foundations continue to shape Cecil’s identity, cultural authority and artistic practice.

Although immersed in culture and storytelling throughout his life, Cecil began painting in late 2024. From the moment he picked up a brush, a strong sense of purpose emerged. Painting became a way to honour his grandfather and reconnect with Country, memory and story; translating lived experience into powerful visual expression. His works are bold, layered and deeply connected to place, reflecting resilience, knowledge and spirit. Through mapping Country and expressing cultural narratives, Cecil contributes to the living legacy of Gija art.

Alongside his practice, Cecil is a respected cultural leader. He has worked extensively with local schools, mentoring young people and sharing knowledge of culture, language and land. In March 2025, he joined Warmun Art Centre as Cultural Coordinator and co-manager for the Gija-led Men’s Place initiative, supporting cultural renewal, healing and leadership.

Cecil was selected as a finalist in the Perth Royal Landscape Art Prize 2025 and the Mandorla Art Prize 2026, with his first solo exhibition scheduled for September 2026. His late start in painting marks the beginning of a powerful and promising artistic journey