CIAF mourns the passing of respected artist, designer and cultural leader Simone Arnol

With deep sadness, the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) acknowledges the passing of Simone Arnol, an incredibly talented First Nations artist, designer, and former Manager of Yarrabah Art Centre, who passed away this month following a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. A proud Gunggandji woman from Yarrabah, Simone’s work was deeply grounded in her connection to Country, culture and community. Her multidisciplinary practice spanned painting, photography, textiles, wearable art and fashion design, often incorporating sustainable materials and natural processes that reflected her philosophy of caring for Country and “keeping it grassroots while respecting the Elders, the keepers of Knowledge”. Simone, alongside her partner and creative collaborator Bernard Singleton, played a pivotal role in shaping CIAF’s fashion program.