Troy Drill

Troy Drill is a bold and emerging Gija artist whose work radiates cultural strength, resilience, and a profound connection to Country.

Born in Wyndham and raised between Chinaman Gardens and Purnululu, Troy was shaped by the wisdom of his Elders and grandparents: Simon Drill, Paddy Springvale, Ivy Drill, and Raymond Wallaby, whom he affectionately calls “The Big Boss.” Their teachings, together with his deep connection to family and Country, continue to guide and inspire his artistic practice.

A former elite athlete, Troy’s life took an unexpected turn in his twenties when a career-ending injury brought his sporting ambitions to an abrupt close. In the face of adversity, he found healing and renewed purpose through art, encouraged by his mother, Senior Gija Elder Shirley Drill, together with Dwayne Jessell and Jonathon Malgil. What began as a path to recovery quickly became a powerful means of reconnecting with his culture, identity, and Country.

Picking up a paintbrush for the first time in 2024, Troy rapidly developed a distinctive artistic voice. His paintings explore Ngarrangkarni (Dreaming), sacred places, ancestral totems, and the powerful landscapes of Gija Country, including Purnululu and Kangaroo Fat Dreaming. Working across traditional ochre, acrylic, printmaking, and mixed media, his bold compositions and expressive self-portraits speak of identity, lived experience, cultural pride, and belonging.

In little more than a year, Troy has established himself as one of the Kimberley’s most exciting emerging artists. His work has featured in major exhibitions at Japingka Aboriginal Art Gallery, including Purnululu (2024) and The Three Wise Men (2025) Revealed 2025, Rising Star (2026), the Gija Men’s Show (2026), and Our Country Speaks (2026).

He was a finalist in the Fremantle Print Award and Rockingham Art Prize (2025), received Highly Commended in the Perth Royal Landscape Art Prize (2025), and was selected as a finalist in the Lester Prize (2026). His first major solo exhibition is scheduled for March 2027.

As a compelling new voice in contemporary Aboriginal art, Troy’s work celebrates the enduring strength of Gija culture and the unbreakable connection between people and Country. Grounded in lived experience and shaped by personal transformation, his practice honours the knowledge of his Elders while carrying those stories forward with confidence, authenticity, and hope for future generations.