Artist in shock after painting lost in post
Australia Post has issued a public apology after it lost a painting by renowned Indigenous artist Bobbi Lockyer.
The commissioned work, worth $4000, was sent to a buyer in Queensland from Lockyer’s studio in WA.
But on Christmas Eve the buyer informed Ms Lockyer that Australia Post had delivered an empty parcel.
Lockyer, who was named NAIDOC Artist of the Year in 2021, told the ABC the loss has impacted her greatly and after lodging a complaint with the post office, said she was ‘very tearful.’
“This has been one of the most upsetting experiences of my career,” she wrote on her Facebook page, which has 26,000 followers.
“An original one of one painting was sent via Express Post before Christmas so it would arrive safely. Instead, the collector opened an empty cardboard sleeve on Christmas Eve. No tube. No artwork.”
Career Highlights
- National Recognition: Lockyer was named the 2021 NAIDOC Artist of the Year and won the 2023 National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition with her entry titled “For Our Elders”.
- Australian Open 2025: She served as the official First Nations artist for the 2025 Australian Open, where her mural “Together” was featured on the steps of Margaret Court Arena.
- International Presence: Her work has been showcased on global platforms, including the runways of New York and Paris Fashion Weeks, and has appeared in Vogue Magazine.
- Collaborations: She has collaborated with major brands such as Woolworths, Telstra, Nikon, and Adobe.
Lockyer said she was angry at Australia Post for “brushing off the loss as a packaging issue”.
“I am not asking for sympathy. I am asking for accountability and for genuine efforts to locate a one of one artwork that cannot simply be repainted,” she wrote.
“Artists should not be expected to quietly absorb losses like this.”
The painting, featuring an ocean scene from Karriyarra Country in Port Hedland, took Ms Lockyer over 100 hours to complete and has set her back financially.
Australia Post originally said it was her fault as the painting had been incorrectly packaged.
They later apologised and said they would continue to investigate the loss.
