Delvene Cockatoo-Collins Art

25/03/2026

LET’S HELP MERREPEN GET PRINTING AGAIN!
At Merrepen Arts, their fabric printing workshop and sewing rooms are currently under 170cm of water — higher than the 1998 floods. And with more water on the way, it’s not over yet.

The Daly River region has already flooded twice this wet season, forcing the community to evacuate to Darwin — twice. Many families are still here, unable to return home.

They haven’t been able to get back to assess the damage, but they know it will be significant. There’s a long clean-up ahead, and vital equipment will need replacing — much of it uninsured due to their location.

It’s going to take time to recover, and they can’t do it alone.
It might take months – that’s why they need our help. If you can, please support their crowdfunding campaign and take a minute to learn about Merrepen Arts and the Daly Region.

https://www.pozible.com/project/please-help-get-us-afloat?utm_medium=share&fbclid=IwY2xjawQtorVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEejEOtHV0Ypl9Js1Y80nRdmKlZP_3_UVLGG4DI25wPtsEblaFDmjBjjsjRzhA_aem_WiN9osRlEEuIQI91ekPVvA

24/03/2026

Recently opening at Brisbane Quarter, ‘When Dilly Bags Catch the Light’

18/03/2026

Last day in the shop today 🤍
Open 10am–2pm

As the physical space closes, I’m moving into an exciting new chapter.

✨ Custom orders will continue to be made with care and intention.

✨ Online will be reactivated Monday evening, with garments and accessories I’ll now have the time to focus on more deeply.

✨ Pop-ups will be announced soon — I’m looking forward to meeting you in new spaces.

✨ My installation Where Dilly Bags Catch the Light at opened last week and will be on until 10 May.

✨ And my residency Warrajamba at the Museum of Brisbane opens next Saturday 28th.

Thank you to everyone who has supported, believed in, and carried me through this chapter. Your love means everything. ✨

11/03/2026

Over many years I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside in different ways.

From the Welcome the Whales events more than ten years ago (where I first met Penny Limbach), to bringing the Tangalooma program to Dunwich State School, and delivering art workshops as part of the broader program.

Yesterday marked another special moment, being part of the launch of Tangalooma’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, where I’ve been contributing as Cultural Advisor.

The RAP was launched by the Hon. Leeanne Enoch and attended by our Elders including the Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders in Council, along with supporters and representatives from organisations including Tourism and Events Queensland, the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.

Also incredibly proud to see the beautiful RAP artwork created by Mikayla Adams-Houston.

It feels like a natural next step in formalising the relationships that have grown over time and creating a pathway for cultural experiences with visitors and guests, staff cultural learning, with the guidance of the Elders Advisory Committee we’ve established

09/03/2026

After a wonderful time at 61 Edward Street, in Brisbane we are now coming into the final days of opening in the space.

If you’ve been meaning to visit, please drop in before we close the doors.

Open 10am – 2pm on:
• Friday 13 March
• Saturday 14 March
• Monday 16 March
• Wednesday 18 March
• Thursday 19 March — our final day

Thank you to everyone who has visited, supported, and spent time with us in this space. It has meant so much.

From here, things will continue online, along with pop-ups in new locations, which we’ll announce soon.

We’d love to see you before we close at Edward Street.

06/03/2026

Sharing ‘when dilly bags catch the light’ a new installation at Brisbane Quarter and acknowledging my family and friends who assisted in the preparation and installation.

27/02/2026

From the Mob in Fashion Runway at Melbourne Fashion Festival

Talented First Nations artist and designer Delvene Cockatoo-Collins has grown her design scope year after year.This month Style Up spoke with Cockatoo-Collins ahead of her brand's showcase at Paypal M...

25/02/2026

❤️ for all on the Beyond Blak Runway tonight for

I’m home tonight while my 2026 collection, ‘The Bayside’, is showing 10 different looks. It’s anchored in place, reflecting the western side of the island, the place of mangrove systems, where freshwater meets saltwater and where reeds are gathered for gulay dilly bags. The quietness of this environment can be felt in the textures, shells and fibres.

There is a sense of continuity within the work. I’ve revisited one of last year’s patterns (shown here), reworking it through a new colourway. Working from my studio allows for that kind of ongoing dialogue with the textiles including that space to experiment, and to continuously breathe new life into familiar forms.

15/02/2026

Closing this chapter 🤍

After 11-ish years of a retail store in Goompi Dunwich on Minjerribah North Stradbroke Island and almost 12 months in Brisbane City, the time has come to close my city shopfront. Last day: 19 March.

After much thought, I won’t be continuing with a permanent physical store, but the work continues, just in different ways and places.

You can find my pieces online at cockatoocollins.com, at the and through a program of pop-ups across the country. Over the year ahead, I’ll also be quietly sharing residencies, installations and projects as they unfold, moments of work in new spaces and unexpected places.

Much of last year was spent travelling across the US, Japan, Vietnam and the UAE and more recently to Badu, working at the Art Centre. Moving through these places, working, observing and listening has quietly reshaped how I want to work going forward. This decision has come slowly, with thought and care.

Thank you to everyone who has walked through the doors on the island and in Brisbane, shared conversation, and supported this work over the years. These spaces have held so much. Some of the items in the Edward Street shop have been chosen to be part of a final run, a last offering before the space closes.

✨ Each Sunday, I will be posting open hours until the final day, 19 March.

✨ We’ll continue with reduced hours leading up to the last day.

✨ soon will be sharing some of the pop ups throughout the year and updating as they are confirmed

✨ this week the 61 Edward Street store is open Monday - Saturday 10am-2pm

If you’ve been meaning to visit, you’re warmly welcome.

With gratitude and quiet excitement for what’s unfolding.

🖤💛❤️

22/01/2026

Grateful to be attending .festival on Gadagil Land - in Sydney - this Monday 26 January 🖤💛❤️

I’ll be there with a small selection of my handprinted and one-of-a-kind garments, collaborative clutches and homewares, all made locally and carried with story and connection.

If you’re coming along, I’d love to see you. Come find us in the Gadigal section alongside artists and makers.

Holding deep respect for community, Elders, artists and organisers who continue to make Yabun such a powerful place to gather each year.

Artwork by James P. Simonfestival .7

20/12/2025

As I prepare for the ‘Back in Black’ runway at Melbourne Fashion Festival this February, I’ve been revisiting some of my favourite looks when I was first invited to show with Mob in Fashion in 2022.

Each collection here carries its own story ‘A Mermaid in the Bay 2022 and 2023, Under a Full Moon 2024 and ‘On an Afternoon Low Tide’ 2025, with common threads of tawalpin cotton tree fibres, quampie shells, naturally dyed linens, handprinted and locally made garments.

I can’t wait to see this new collection for 2026 revealed alongside so many powerful First Nations designers. 🖤

Image 1-10 2022 & 2023 collection ‘A Mermaid in the Bay’ # 📸

Image 11-14 2023 collection ‘Under a Full Moon’ 📸

Images 15-16 18-20 2025 collection ‘On an Afternoon Low Tide’ 📸

Image 17 2035 backstage 📸

19/12/2025

Sis 🫶🏽✨