SHERRY JOHNSTONE

Sherry Johnstone is a Keerray Woorroong and Yorta Yorta woman of the Maar Nation (Gunditjmara), with ancestral connections to Framlingham and Cummeragunja Aboriginal Missions. Based in south-west Victoria, Sherry is a Contemporary Indigenous artist whose work is deeply grounded in identity, resilience and connection to Country.

 

Creativity has been central to Sherry’s life since childhood. After qualifying as a signwriter at 20, she later worked for many years supporting Aboriginal children and families through education and cultural engagement. In 2017, winning an art competition addressing Aboriginal Family Violence marked a turning point, reigniting her commitment to artistic practice.

In 2019, Sherry became the first First Nations Curator of Cultural Engagement at Warrnambool Art Gallery, overseeing the dedicated Maar Nation First Nations space before stepping into full-time artistic practice in 2021.

Through her work, Sherry honours her ancestors and cultural heritage, creating pieces that invite reflection, healing and a reconnection to wonder.

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FLASH1A

I didn’t set out to start a fashion brand.

I began as an artist — painting stories, healing through colour, listening to Country and learning to trust what I felt. Creating has always been how I process the world. It is how I honour my ancestors. It is how I stay connected to who I am.

Flash1A grew from that place.

There came a moment where I realised art didn’t have to live only on canvas. It could move. It could be worn. It could walk into rooms I may never enter myself. Through fashion, story travels differently — it becomes embodied.

As a First Nations woman, I carry a deep responsibility in what I create. My designs are not trends to me. They are reflections of Country, of culture, of identity. Every curve, every colour, every fabric choice is intentional. I design slowly because I believe in getting it right — not just aesthetically, but spiritually.

I am still evolving. Still learning. Still listening.

Flash1A is not about perfection. It is about integrity. It is about creating pieces that make people feel grounded, strong and proud in who they are.

When you wear Flash1A, you are trusting me with more than your wardrobe. You are trusting the story I carry. I don’t take that lightly.

This brand is personal. It is an extension of my journey — of healing, of growth, of courage, and of stepping forward while staying deeply rooted in where I come from.

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SPIRIT & SOUL CREATIONS

Sherry has been a Warrnambool artist whose artworks are woven with rich colours and symbols of culture and place. Her focus of her work is her deep connection to her spirit and soul.

Sherry's drawings, paintings and commissioned pieces can be found in private, public and corporate collections across Australia.

YOU CAN VIEW SHERRY'S ARTWORKS HERE