Otis Hope Carey

Otis Hope Carey is an Australian artist and professional surfer who lives and works in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, on Bundjalung Country. A proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man, Carey creates work deeply informed by culture, spirituality, Country, and his connection to Gaagal, the ocean.Since his first solo exhibition, NGURAALMI, presented at China Heights Gallery in Sydney in 2016, Carey has centred his practice on the spiritual and totemic significance of Gaagal within Gumbaynggirr culture. His work can be understood through several interconnected bodies of work, including Gaagal (Ocean), Ngalunggirr Miinggi (Healing Spirit), which explores the ocean’s restorative and healing power, and Ngiinda Darrundang Gaagal (I Thank the Ocean), which draws on his interpretation of Gaagal Yuludarla, a ceremonial ocean Dreaming dance.Carey’s compositions are characterised by rhythmic linework, fluid movement, bold colour, and carefully structured patterns. His recurring motifs evoke tidal currents, rippling water, the energy of dancing feet, and the inseparable relationship between spirit, people, and Country. Through this distinctive visual language, he communicates both personal experience and enduring cultural knowledge.Working primarily on stretched canvas, Carey has expanded his practice to include bark paintings, sculptural painted logs, and large-scale murals. His work has received significant recognition within Australian contemporary art. He was a finalist for the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship in 2018, a finalist in the Wynne Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2020, and was named GQ Australia’s Artist of the Year in 2023.Carey’s work is held in public and private collections and has been presented through exhibitions, commissioned projects, murals, and major collaborations. Alongside his artistic practice, he is recognised as a professional surfer and an influential figure within First Nations communities.