Colours of Home (Opal Mini series) | 80h x 62w | RK1000
Not stretched or framed | Acrylic on primed canvas
Lisa Khan (b.1987) is an artist whose creative journey is deeply rooted in the strength of her two cultures - her Mother is a proud Yankunytjatjara, Antikirinya, and Pitjantjatjara woman (a Traditional Owner for Coober Pedy) and her Father, an Ahmadiyyah Muslim refugee from Pakistan, brought to Australia his courage, resilience, and strength. Guided by ancestral knowledge and the strength of living between two worlds, Lisa’s art is both a celebration and an offering — honouring her Aboriginal and Muslim heritage while sharing stories of resilience, identity, and belonging.
Growing up in Coober Pedy and spending time in Cave Hill, Alice Springs, Halls Creek, the APY Lands, and Port Augusta, Lisa’s life has been one of movement, learning, and connection to Country. Today, she paints from her private studio in Adelaide, carrying these experiences into every canvas she creates.
Her practice bridges tradition and innovation, weaving cultural memory with contemporary expression. She layers delicate washes of acrylic paint to form luminous backgrounds, before applying intricate dot work in colours that echo the opal-rich desert landscapes of her home in Coober Pedy.
Lisa says - "Growing up we used to follow our parents out bush and look for Opal, we'd play in the sand but had to watch out for shafts. My grandmother showed us how to hunt lizards, we caught the ankata (bearded dragon), at school we used to go on day trips with the Elders and look for bush tucker and different bush fruits. When I paint, I feel connected to my Country and my grandparents who aren't here anymore. It is my job to look after the country and the stories from my grandmothers."
This painting shows the glimmering light hidden within dusty rocks and sand, symbolic of both opal and the spirit of the people who live there.
Lisa paints powerful and alluring works through which she has gained notoriety nationally and internationally.
This painting does not come with a photo of the artist holding the work.
