Amanda Westley is a Ngarrindjeri artist born in Victor Harbor, South Australia, in 1985. Her totems are the whale, pelican and black swan, and her connection to both land and sea has shaped her identity and creative practice. Growing up on a farm just outside Victor Harbor, with a father who was a boat builder, Amanda developed a deep affinity with the ocean and the coastal environment.

Working in contemporary Aboriginal dot painting, she draws on the vivid colours of her Ngarrindjeri country—pinks, yellows, blues, greens and oranges—to capture the spirit of her coastal home. Her works reflect the enduring cultural and spiritual significance of country for Aboriginal people, expressing both personal and ancestral connections to place.

As a member of one of the oldest Aboriginal families on the south coast, Amanda’s practice acknowledges and honours the long-standing relationship her family has with the land, celebrating its importance to identity, culture and community. In 2025, one of her paintings was gifted to Pope Francis—an international recognition that marks a significant milestone in her artistic journey and the cultural resonance of her work.