Uncle Kevin ‘Sooty’ Welsh, Wayilwan Artist and Elder 

Kevin ‘Sooty’ Welsh is a proud Wayilwan man. Uncle Kevin ‘Sooty’ moved back to his hometown of Coonamble after moving around, mostly in Sydney. As part of the Stolen Generation, his recent nine years in Coonamble are the longest time he has ever spent on the land of his ancestors. Now he has truly reconnected with Country, after being taken away.

Uncle Sooty is a ceramics artist, who makes hand-crafted pots and pieces, richly glazed, and marked with unique markings. These are the markings that are closely linked to the Wayilwan people and have been found carved on the trees and into the land in the region. It’s important to him to maintain his creativity, his story, his understanding, and his health.

Uncle Sooty’s work developed and grew after participating in the SOUTHEAST Aboriginal Arts Markets (Carriageworks), held annually in November. 

Uncle Sooty achievements are many. His ceramic guulamans (coolamans) have been gifted to Papua New Guinea from the Australian government.

In 2021 Uncle Sooty was invited to exhibit at the Australian Museum, Sydney, as part of the Unsettled exhibition 2021-2022 (curators Laura McBride and Dr Mariko Smith). In addition, Uncle Sooty was on the Q&A panel for the Australian Ceramics Triennale in July 2022. He has exhibited at The JAM Factory in Adelaide, S.A. and has a global reach with his work which inspires and heals.

Uncle Sooty attended on invitation the 2023 Sydney Ceramics Market, hosted by Carriageworks, Everleigh, Gadigal Land, Eora.

He regularly exhibits his pieces out of the Outback Arts Gallery, Coonamble, and the oldest owned and managed Aboriginal art gallery in Australia, Boomalli. In addition, Uncle Sooty sells ceramics pieces through Koskela, North Sydney, but can also be contacted via Facebook and on 0497 124 208

Uncle Sooty currently works out of the Talent Scouts Arts Studio: Home of the Coonamble Ceramics Collective(Coonamble Arts Alive Inc.) with Lorraine (Rainy) King. 

Watch the Living Arts and Culture story Confluence: Sooty Welsh (Outback Arts/Andrew Hull) for more on Uncle Sooty’s journey of reconnecting with Country.