House Artists Program
Indigenous Art in Commercial Design
At Winya Indigenous Furniture, we celebrate First Nations storytelling by embedding authentic art into the fabric of Australian workspaces. Our House Artists Program collaborates with Indigenous creators nationwide to transform functional furniture into pieces of deep cultural significance.
By bridging the gap between traditional art and modern interiors, we create tangible economic opportunities for artists while ensuring Indigenous representation is a cornerstone of commercial design.
Each print reflects a unique language group, Country, or Dreaming story. For businesses and government sectors, this program offers an ethical, culturally respectful way to incorporate Indigenous design into corporate environments.
Unique Indigenous Upholstery & Textiles
Soft Seating — lounges, armchairs, and ottomans with hand-stitched or digitally printed fabrics.
Acoustic Panels & Screens — PET panels and mobile partitions printed with rich, detailed storytelling.
Timber & Metal Surfaces — laser-etched designs on tables, cabinetry, or metal storage pieces.
Yarn Boards — glass or acrylic whiteboards featuring translucent artwork borders or central motifs.
We partner with artists, art centres, and collectives to develop custom fabric designs for our entire range, including:
From Canvas to Commercial Spaces
The House Artists Program is built on mutual respect and professional growth. We provide a national platform for artists to showcase their work in high-profile locations, including healthcare, education, and government buildings.
Why Artists Partner With Winya:
Widespread Exposure with promotion across Winya’s digital channels and national catalogues.
IP Protection, meaning that artists retain full ownership of their designs.
Digital Support as possible, by providing guidance on digitising artwork for textile production.
Cultural narratives are preserved, celebrated, and embedded into contemporary corporate spaces.
Semi-Exclusive Licensing so that artists remain free to use their work for paintings or merchandise while reserving furniture rights for Winya.
Ethical Compensation & Fair Licensing
Winya is committed to fair and transparent compensation for artists participating in the House Artist Program. Every artist whose work is selected for upholstery fabric receives:
By embedding ethical licensing and compensation structures into the program, we are ensuring that Indigenous artists are not only celebrated but also financially empowered, creating a sustainable, long-term impact on their careers and communities.
-
Providing an ongoing revenue stream as their designs are used in commercial projects.
-
From any furniture product featuring their artwork, ensuring that artists benefit from the broader success of the program.
-
Meaning the artist retains ownership of their work - it remains their creation, their story, and their cultural expression.
Lucinda Johnson-Cornes, sitting on our Yanada Modular Lounge with the fabric she created during her Indigenous Student Work Placement, located in Melbourne Central. Today Lucinda is one of our House Artists.
How This Supports Your Goals
The Indigenous Design Catalogue is not just about aesthetics — it helps your organisation achieve strategic objectives:
Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs): Demonstrate visible, meaningful action towards reconciliation.
Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP): Meet government and corporate procurement targets with documented outcomes.
Social Procurement: Directly support Indigenous businesses and communities through every project.
Every specification has a measurable ripple effect — from artist royalties to national employment programs.