Pep Talks | Yuriyal Bridgeman

Join us for our next Pep Talk with Yuriyal Bridgeman, who'll be fresh off the plane from his inclusion in the 18th Lyon Contemporary Art Biennale in France! Pep Talks are your chance to hear from QCAD legends about their practice and career trajectory since graduating, as well as the advice they wish they'd heard along the way. Designed to be casual and engaging, there'll be plenty of time to ask questions, or submit them ahead of time by messaging us directly. The Pep Talk will kick off with a free BBQ in the QCAD Courtyard at 4.30pm, and the talk will start at 5.30pm. WHAT: Pep Talk with Yuriyal Bridgeman & special guests WHERE: QCAD Courtyard & GUAM WHEN: Thursday 24, September 2026, 4:30-5.30pm (Free BBQ); followed by 5.30-7pm (Artist Talk/Q&A) COST: Tickets: $15.00/ Free for QCAD students with valid student email About Yuriyal Yuriyal Bridgeman completed a Bachelor of Photography at the Queensland College of Art & Design in 2008, laying the foundation for a multidisciplinary practice that has since established him as a distinctive voice in the contemporary art landscape of the Asia-Pacific region. Born in Redcliffe, Queensland, to a Papua New Guinean mother and an Anglo-Australian father, Bridgeman grounds his practice in his dual heritage and deep ties to his maternal people, the Yuri tribe of the southern Simbu Province. His work reflects a sustained engagement with representation, belonging, and the evolving role of cultural tradition within contemporary life. His work spans photography, video, painting, sculpture and installation, drawing on both his Papua New Guinean cultural heritage and his experiences living and working between Papua New Guinea and Queensland. Through portraiture, social commentary and culturally grounded artistic practices, Bridgeman has developed a significant body of work that continues to evolve through his role as co-founder of the artist collective Haus Yuriyal and participation in major exhibitions, including the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art at QAGOMA. In 2024-25 Griffith University Art Museum presented a mid-career survey exhibition Yuriyal Bridgeman: yubilong(mi)bilongyu which included significant new works that reflected the culmination of Bridgeman’s most recent research practice, along with a selection of works showcasing the breadth of Bridgeman’s career to date. Image: Eric Bridgeman and Haus Yuriyal, SUNA (Middle Ground) 2020. Installation progress view for the 22nd Biennale of Sydney, Cockatoo Island. Photo: Zan Wimberley.