Aunty Marlene Wilson and a group of seven Ballarat locals called the Pitcha Making Fellaz are both in the running for the Deadly Art Award, which is the richest award for indigenous art in the state.

Gordon resident Aunty Wilson, who has been nominated twice before, said the awards were important to promote indigenous art and encourage young indigenous people to get involved.

“There’s not a lot of platforms to have art shown, (so) it’s encouraging for the young and up and coming artists,” Ms Wilson said.

Her work, titled Bunji’s Final Meeting Place, Race Meeting at Lal Lal, depicts the sacred grounds of Lal Lal Falls.

When the Pitcha Making Fellaz started producing artwork two years ago, only three of the seven members were artists.

“One of the ladies here at the Aboriginal Co-Op in Ballarat came to us and said do you want to get a group together to do some artwork,” group member Peter-Shane Rotumah said.

As well as their two VIAA nominations, the group now have works in both the Art Gallery of Ballarat and the National Gallery of Victoria.                                                

Rotumah said their work, titled Barmah Cull, was motivated by the destruction of indigenous land by wild brumbies in the Barmah forest.

The awards mark the 10th anniversary of the VIAA, which will see 35 indigenous artists vie for six awards worth over $50,000.

Winners will be judged by The Deadly Award’s first winner Vicki Couzens and Caroline Martin, from the Melbourne Museum.

The State Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley presented the shortlist at the Art Gallery of Ballarat, and said it was important to recognise the current and historical indigenous contribution to the Australian art landscape.

“(The awards show) how vibrant and alive the modern indigenous contribution is to Australian and Victorian culture and art,” Mr Foley said.

The winners will be announced at the Art Gallery of Ballarat on August 8, and the works will be on display at the gallery from August 9 to September 20.