About

Liz Thompson Bio

Liz Thompson is an Australian photographer and a multi-media artist who creates and collaborates on books, radio features, film and exhibitions. Over the last two decades her work has focused on projects led by First Nations communities,  with a focus on recording and creatively interpreting language and culture. She has worked closely  with senior cultural custodians from the Adnyamathanha, Wägilak and Nyikina communities,  travelling on, and photographically documenting, ancestral Dreaming tracks and Songlines.

Her photographs have featured in global publications, including : The Independen; Sydney Morning Herald; The Good Weekend; The Age; Gourmet Traveller; Art Review; The World of Interiors and Australian GEO.

Liz has directed and written award-winning television documentaries for SBS, ABC and BBC and has won the United Nations Media Peace Prize for Best Television, World Broadcasting Associations Award for Best Television promoting Conflict Resolution, AIBD Best TV Documentary, French Intl. Film Org – Grand Jury Prize.

She has produced and designed numerous radio and audio arts features broadcast on ABC Radio (inc Into the Music, Soundproof, Radio Eye, Encounter). A sonic  journey along the ancestral dreaming track of Adnyamathanha Creation Ancestor Yurlu the Kingfisher,  led by senior cultural custodian Cliff Coulthard, was a Finalist in the New York International Radio Program Awards.

Liz’s photography has photographed for over thirty book publications, including Sharing Our Stories, a 14 part series with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia (Winner of the Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing).

She has exhibited globally in both  solo and joint exhibitions - including immersive, interactive, large-scale and permanent installations.

Liz is the Founder and Creative Director of SharingStories Foundation, a multi award winning Not For Profit working with and for First Nations communities to protect, maintain and grow culture and language.

In 2021 Liz received the Pro Bono Australia Judges Choice Award for Innovation as well as the Impact 25 Award – ‘recognising the most influential people working to solve today’s greatest challenges through integrity, foresight, initiative and collaboration’ - for her work at the foundation.

She has a PhD from La Trobe Universities School of Communication, Arts and Critical Enquiry - Media: Screen + Sound Program - involving practice based research.

Photo Credit Lorrie Graham